Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy knows, I have responsibility for the area of freedom of information. He is also aware that I indicated last December during the Committee Stage debate on the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 that it was my intention that Irish Water should be made subject to freedom of information legislation at an early stage following the enactment of that legislation. On the basis of recent developments instanced by the Deputy, following the commencement of the Irish Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 and taking into account the likely timetable for the enactment of the new Bill I am progressing through the House, I have concluded that arrangements should be made as expeditiously as possible for Irish Water to come under freedom of information legislation from its legal establishment date in 2013. Rather than awaiting the enactment of the new freedom of information Bill, I have decided to utilise the powers under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 in respect of Irish Water. The Act provides that in these circumstances a positive resolution of both Houses is required before an order can come into force and freedom of information legislation actually applies to the public body concerned. I propose, subject to the approval of each House of the Oireachtas in due course, to give Irish Water 30 days following the making of the order to make the administrative arrangements required to be fully compliant with freedom of information legislation.

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