Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I do not subscribe to the Deputy's conspiracy theory. First, as Minister for Finance, the terms of the freedom of information legislation were historically widened beyond those set by any of my predecessors or successors. I have broadened the application of the Freedom of Information Act to far more bodies than was the case when Deputy Gilmore's party introduced it. I contend that my record on the extension of freedom of information is far better than anyone else in the House. The record will show that. The fact that is the case does not mean I believe it should be extended willy-nilly if there are good policy reasons why it should not be. Therefore, one's commitment to an effective and efficient freedom of information legislation is not determined by the number of bodies to which one applies it. It is determined by those bodies to whom it has been extended and the good policy reasons why it does not have to be extended to everyone. I have given an initial reaction. It is a matter for the Minister for Finance to reply to in detail by way of parliamentary question on what the policy considerations would be regarding the hesitancy of applying it to some of the institutions referred to by Deputy Gilmore. I can think of a couple of obvious ones off the top of my head.

On the question on the International Monetary Fund and National Asset Management Agency, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the correspondence to which Deputy Gilmore referred confirmed that the IMF said that if NAMA was not being formed by the Government it would have suggested something of that kind in any event. It was fully supportive of NAMA. Again, when the full correspondence is considered the interpretation which Deputy Gilmore gave to the release of that information is at variance with the facts.

On the question of the delegation orders for the functions of the National Treasury Management Agency, as I indicated the Minister will be fully accountable to the House for all actions in the normal way. That is an arrangement he has brought forward in an effort to ensure that the dealings with the banks and the issues that are under consideration at present are carried out efficiently and effectively and are not done by a variety of bodies that would be listening to the same sets of arguments.

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