Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Most of us know there are serious issues with freedom of information procedures in this State. I have had difficulties accessing information and have been denied access to information that ought to be obtainable under FOI, as has been the case for many Deputies, journalists and members of the public. Nevertheless, the events surrounding the recent Katherine Zappone appointment controversy have shone a light on these issues and the need for clear legislative reform. A proper, functioning freedom of information regime is essential in any democratic state and we do not currently have one, leaving us with a lack of transparency and accountability across government and public bodies.

So bad is it that the Minister, Deputy Coveney, deleted official correspondence, in violation of the Freedom of Information Act, and he has yet to acknowledge that fact. Moreover, a freedom of information request made by Sinn Féin to the Department of the Taoiseach was denied, with the Department stating that the records did not exist. Subsequently, however, they were provided by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Those records related, as we all know, to the legality of the Merrion Hotel event. It is absolutely shocking. It is not sloppy or careless but an abuse of ministerial office and the Taoiseach needs to take responsibility. We need a commitment from the Taoiseach that Ministers will fulfil their obligations under the Act, and we need urgent reform of the legislation.

Sinn Féin has proposed a Bill to do precisely that. No action has been taken by the Government thus far other than, apparently, a review of FOI mechanisms, which some Ministers were not even aware of. We know what the problems are. We need action, not wishy-washy excuses. Some of the changes we are proposing include ensuring that SIPO will be given the power to investigate FOI failures. We need to broaden the remit of the Act to ensure that bodies such as RTÉ are fully covered under it and we need to ensure there is consistency across Departments and public bodies. It is clear the Government is not willing to deal with this issue. It is happy enough with the existing dysfunctional regime because it can be abused and it can hide behind it. Sinn Féin will not stand by that and allow this to go on. We want urgent reform and we need to reform how the parties in government do business. This arrogant approach, this cronyism, just has to stop.

The Taoiseach is the leader of the Government and it is his responsibility to ensure Ministers adhere to the law of the land. We need leadership, but where is it? What is the Taoiseach afraid of? Is he afraid there is more to this, that more Ministers or Departments will be found out and that he will eventually have to accept this is an endemic problem throughout the State? Is he afraid that if he pushes this too far, Fine Gael will pull the plug and that will bring an end to his reign as Taoiseach? Either way, he needs to snap out of it and sort this out. He needs to lead from the front, as does the Minister, unless he is happy to turn a blind eye to all of this. If he is happy to do so, it means he does not have a problem with this sort of murky politics, which totally lacks transparency and accountability. The proof will be in the pudding if the Minister does not support the motion.

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