Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that we discussed the need to allow for some element of retrospection but that must be balanced with the need to ensure that it is practical. I have discussed this on foot of our previous discussion with the chief executive officers, CEOs, of bodies that will be embraced now. Going back so far where they have not marshalled the data would be an enormous administrative burden. The Act will be applied retrospectively but that must be in a way that is practical. I am satisfied, having reflected upon it, that the date I selected, 21 April 2008, which is a long way back – many resist going back that far – strikes an appropriate balance between pushing it back to a reasonable start date and imposing a burden on the bodies such that they could not marshal the data for so many years in an appropriate form for FOI, which would be unreasonable. Having reflected upon it, I will stay with the date I originally proposed.

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