Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I understand that it is the Taoiseach's natural instinct not to extend the Freedom of Information Act. That has been clear for some time from the responses he has given on this subject. It is probably a fair summary of his position to say that he does not like it, but that is not a good reason for not extending it.

I want to specifically pursue the functions which are going to the NTMA. We have not yet seen a delegation order for the transfer of these functions but clearly they are at present covered by the Act. The Taoiseach will recall a recent freedom of information release which caused some embarrassment because it made clear that the IMF had not given the green light to NAMA to the extent claimed by the Government. If the Act is not extended to cover the NTMA after these functions are transferred to it, that kind of freedom of information request will no longer be possible. That may be good news for the Government in that it can conceal information that would otherwise be in the public domain but I do not think it is in the public interest to transfer matters that are at present subject to the Freedom of Information Act to the NTMA, at which point they will no longer be subject to the legislation.

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