Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Could the Taoiseach confirm that the Freedom of Information Act allows for a citizen to seek information on salaries, expenses claimed, travel abroad, a whole raft of issues relating to remuneration and expenses of all employees in his Department? Could he also advise that no such provision applies to those who have been entrusted to oversee and manage the National Asset Management Agency?

What is his reaction to the revelation last month that the banks lobbied extensively to ensure that on its establishment NAMA would not come under the freedom of information legislation? What is the factual position in regard to that? Is the Taoiseach willing to look once again at the recommendation of the Information Commissioner, that all State bodies and agencies should come under the remit of the Freedom of Information Act immediately on their establishment and that the logic of that is that NAMA should be included under the FOI? If it is the case that the Taoiseach is unwilling, because of commitments made to the banks or any other position he may have adopted, to include the business of NAMA under the remit of the FOI, would he include the administration and management of NAMA under the FOI, in other words that we would not have a situation where this body, that is now being entrusted with the risk management of billions of taxpayers' moneys, now and perhaps generationally into the future, will not be amenable to information requests? Will he advise us of what action he proposes to take in that regard, and his clarification regarding the banks' lobby?

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