Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of freedom of information, the Taoiseach's colleague, Deputy Howlin, who is the Minister responsible, said the fees are not an issue, although they were once. The point is that we paid the fees for the information we received under freedom of information requests. On the question of the operation of the freedom of information provisions and the need to review them, the Dáil should get information without having to make a freedom of information request. We should not be dependent on the Freedom of Information Act for basic information on policy decisions.

There is no question but that in the context of the selection of the primary care sites, we had to go through the Freedom of Information Act, because we could not get the information through the parliamentary questions process. However, even when we used the Freedom of Information Act, we were told - I have here the letters from the Department, not just from the FOI office, on the primary care centres - that it would be another four weeks before we could get the information because the office was availing of the provision to seek another four weeks. This is on top of the six weeks it has already taken. All we are asking for is some basic information. Why is it not possible just to publish the documentation? Why is it not put in the Oireachtas Library where the Members can go through it? What is there to hide? Just publish all the documentation that exists on the selection of the primary care centres.

The Taoiseach is using the Freedom of Information Act to frustrate the genuine and legitimate interests of Dáil and Seanad representatives who seek information on the rationale behind a policy decision on the selection of primary care sites which resulted in the resignation of a Minister of State. This is a very serious issue, yet there is a consistent pattern of denying that information to the House in the hope that, by the time it eventually comes out, the issue will be forgotten and people will not have the same level of interest.

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