Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am not aware of any intention to accommodate that. The issue in question could well be addressed by parliamentary questions in any event. The functions of the NTMA are a matter of organisation for the Minister for Finance. Obviously, the Minister and other agencies, such as the Central Bank, will continue to advise generally on these kinds of matters in so far as they are appropriate to their remit. In the context of the engagement that is currently taking place, the Minister believes the NTMA has the expertise and wherewithal to deal with these functions efficiently. Rather than allowing the possibility of people going to five or six different places to make entreaties, it is best to deal with one organisation and the NTMA is best placed to manage this issue. That is the thinking behind that decision. At the end of the day, the Minister is accountable for all actions that will derive from those arrangements.

On the Labour Party's proposal to extend the Freedom of Information Act to cover a range of matters which could have clear implications for commercially sensitive information, it is not my function as Taoiseach to give detailed answers regarding possible extensions of the Act. That is the line responsibility of the Minister for Finance. However, my initial instinct would be to tread cautiously before extending the Act to some of the areas referred to by the Deputy.

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