Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to introduce this important legislation, alongside my colleague, Deputy Mairéad Farrell. The Bill seeks to strengthen the FOI regime, which has been eroded in recent years, and to ensure that what we have, going forward, is fit for purpose. It is most timely, given recent events, and because it is International Access to Information Day. However, long before those events, freedom of information was under attack and legitimate concerns were being raised by those who should not have been encountering barriers to access information, including journalists, researchers and victims of institutional abuse. Instead of building on the 1997 introduction of FOI and ensuring a complete and robust mechanism to access information, what has emerged is a flawed system that feeds directly into a lack of transparency and accountability. That needs to be addressed urgently. Instead of shortcomings being exploited in a manner that is simply wrong and leading to a perception of a culture of loophole-seeking to block the provision of information, the fundamental principle that the public has a right to know must be put back at the centre of freedom of information because the public has a right to know.

The public has a right to know when their tax payments are being used for pension entitlements for former taoisigh, Ministers and the President under current expenditure. There is not, nor can there ever be, justification for any period of exemption under FOI legislation when a private company becomes a public body, as happened, for example, with the Land Development Agency. The powers of the Information Commissioner need to be enhanced to ensure that a body is able to refer complaints under FOI to the Standards in Public Office Commission where a Minister or relevant person has intentionally or recklessly failed in his or her obligations. As a democracy, we need an FOI regime that is consistent with the principles of oversight, transparency and accountability. It is also vital that, where policies are introduced or put in place, a method to monitor compliance is also put in place. Where non-compliance is identified, it must be rectified and appropriate steps taken within a reasonable period to ensure non-compliance does not recur. We spoke about freedom of information in the House quite recently. The Bill Deputy Farrell and I have laid here today is somewhat compatible with what the Minister said that evening. I very much look forward to future debates on this issue because it is of vital interest to both Members of this House and the public.

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