Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 10, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:

4.—On the cessation date, the Freedom of Information Act 1997 is amended by inserting—

(a) in paragraph 1(2) of the First Schedule, "the Central Bank of Ireland,", and

(b) in Part I of the Third Schedule at the end thereof—

(i) in column (2), "Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010", and

(ii) in column (3), "any provision" opposite the mention in column (2) of the Consumer Protection Act 2007.".

I approached this amendment with some degree of hope that the Minister would take a fresh view on it. The purpose of it is to ensure that the Freedom of Information Act will apply to the new legislation. There is no doubt that in Irish society, bodies such as the Central Bank and NAMA and people like bankers, developers and friends of Fianna Fáil - however they are cast - wish to operate behind closed doors and veil of secrecy.

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