Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

The functions relating to the Freedom of Information Act are carried out in my Department by statutorily designated officials, as envisaged in the Act. These officials follow the guidelines set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's decision makers manual and there are no plans to change this process. As I have stated previously in the House, the statutory framework relating to freedom of information 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 regard to the processing of freedom of information requests.

My Department received a total of 19 freedom of information requests since the matter was last discussed in the Dáil in September. Twelve requests were granted or part-granted, in three cases the Department held no records and four requests are being processed.

See this speech in context