Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I play no role in freedom of information decisions made within this legislation. If I were to play a role in this, it would undermine the whole spirit of the legislation. I cannot comment on an individual decision made by Bord na Móna and the inquiry the Deputy put in. I imagine the reason it made that decision is that the freedom of information unit in Bord na Móna would have contended that making that information available to the Deputy might have caused commercial difficulty for the organisation and other tendering processes which it has under way, in turn undermining its ability to get good value for the taxpayer. That is a general principle established in the commercial State sector in tendering and procurement processes. I expect Bord na Móna is fully compliant with European Union law in this area. As I said, its evaluation of commercial sensitivity may have played a role in the decision made. However, as I said, I play no role nor would seek to play a role in any individual decision made because that would undermine the whole thrust of this legislation.

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