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

I refer to the Freedom of Information Bill and the programme for Government commitments on legislation. Under the changes to Standing Orders rammed through by the Government recently, allowance was made for a pre-consultation phase for all legislation to allow non-governmental organisations and others with an interest to be consulted on key legislation. Last weekend the Minister tabled a series of amendments to the Freedom of Information Bill. They are quite profound and substantially change the shape, nature and objective of the Bill in so far as it will reduce utilisation of the freedom of information framework. There was no pre-consultation phase on those amendments. The committee tried to adjourn the taking of Committee Stage yesterday with a view to facilitating academics, media representatives and representatives of non-governmental organisations to put to the committee their views on the changes the Minister introduced regarding multiple charges for multiple issues. While I do not agree with his proposal, I am talking about the procedure here.

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