Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The Labour Party is arguing that such people should think again, as this country has progressed most when we have cast aside censorship, provided for freedom of information and allowed people to know the true state of affairs. The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that freedom of information processes are applied to the operations of the new institution.

I have discussed with the Minister how there are areas of commercial sensitivity but equally there are broad areas of policy and practice within the new Central Bank Reform Bill that will reform the Central Bank and bring together the old Central Bank and the regulator. These areas are legitimate subjects of freedom of information requests. Ireland has progressed best since we opened up the country to freedom of information processes.

Such processes are painful for many people, including politicians, but that does not mean we should not pursue the issue. In countries and democracies where there is freedom of information generally - particularly in Scandinavian and Nordic countries - societies have done better. Fianna Fáil should give some thought to providing for appropriate freedom of information processes applying to the reformed institution that will emanate from this Bill when enacted into law.

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