Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

One request from a Member of the Oireachtas was received in my Department from 9 March 2011 to 31 August. The answer was issued within the freedom of information timeframe and was part-granted. The functions relating to freedom of information are carried out in the Department by statutorily designated officials, as envisaged in the Acts, and these officials follow the guidelines set out in the Department of Finance's decision makers manual. This statutory framework is constructed in such a way as to keep the decision-making process at arm's length from the political head of the Department. Accordingly, I have no role in respect of the processing of freedom of information requests. Moreover, there are no plans to change this process.

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