Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their comments, with which I will deal seriatim. I thank Deputy Donnelly for welcoming, in the main, the amendments I have tabled. He referred to the step change and it is by design, as having discussed this matter with the United Kingdom in particular, the idea is to make it much more user-friendly for freedom of information. To be blunt, I do not want people to make really complicated and burdensome FOI requests that will take between 40 and 70 hours of work. It would be much better if they made focused requests taking five hours on specific sets they seek. The entire idea is to encourage this and that is why the step change or tapering to which the Deputy has referred is included. I believe it is the right approach to take and that certainly is the information and advice I have had internationally. On the actual costs, the hourly cost, at €21, has not changed since 1997. The sum of €20.95 is the equivalent of what it cost in pounds in 1997. For Members' information, the equivalent charge in the United Kingdom at present is £25 sterling per hour. Consequently, I believe this is reasonable and I have not sought to increase the cost from 1997 levels.

According to the notes I made, Deputy Sean Fleming referred to replication of the 1997 Act. However, I cannot recall precisely what was the point. What was replicated from the 1997 Act?

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