Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Different regimes will apply to freedom of information and protected disclosures legislation. Freedom of information legislation will apply to public bodies. It does not apply in the private sphere. The point of debate, to which we will return when the freedom of information legislation is taken on Report Stage, relates to commercial semi-State bodies. My view which Deputy Seán Fleming has supported is that we do not wish to disadvantage commercial State companies in such a way that it will give open access to information to their competitors. We may have to deal separately with monopoly State companies. This is an overarching Bill that will apply in the public and private spheres. The only difference relates to public companies. This includes all companies, including commercial companies. State companies are captured by the definition of a public body in the Bill. For example, one of the mechanisms allows for disclosure to the relevant Minister. This, obviously, does not apply to a private company. I hope that answers the question.

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