Results 1-12 of 12 for in 'Dáil debates' segment:1755062

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Enda Kenny: Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department during February 2004; the way in which this figure compares with the same month in 2003; the fees paid to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7583/04]

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Trevor Sargent: Question 10: To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department for the first three months of 2004; the number acceded to by his Department; the way these figures compare with the figures in 2003; the fees paid to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8597/04]

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. There were 11 freedom of information requests received in my Department for the first three months of this year as compared with 80 requests received for the same period last year. All requests for the first three months of this year have been acceded to. Eight freedom of information requests were received during February 2004 compared with...

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Enda Kenny: In the past five months of 2003, there were 21 freedom of information requests received in the Department of the Taoiseach. That compared with 61 requests received from August to December 2002, which represents a net reduction of approximately 66%. The Information Commissioner stated that she has concerns about the decrease in the number of requests and, if the decline continues, it will have...

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Rory O'Hanlon: That question is more appropriate to the Minister for Finance.

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: As the Deputy knows, the numbers were in decline. The areas of the Act with which we thought there might be difficulties, namely, sections 19 and 20, have not presented any. As can be seen from the total figure of €435 which I gave, it cannot have had much effect on the personal applications. As the Deputy knows, there is no cost for cases or appeals in which people seek personal...

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Trevor Sargent: The Information Commissioner has been highly critical of the 2003 changes. Has the Taoiseach met Ms O'Reilly on this issue and when does he expect her report? I understand she has promised a review of the amended Act in June. Is it now time to re-examine the charges which have been made? One individual spent more than €3,000 trying to extract information which was not for personal gain....

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Rory O'Hanlon: This question relates specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach and the Act itself is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance.

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: That is the point. Any meetings will be between the Information Commissioner and the Department of Finance. We based the Act on the experience in other countries and when one compares the charges in those other countries against those here, they are still very low. Admittedly, it is a great deal if someone spends €3,000. I do not know the circumstances of that case but even though there is...

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Pat Rabbitte: Has the Government made any assessment of the impact of the legislative amendments made to the original Act? What is the Taoiseach's impression of commercial enterprises or professionals who were said to be using the Act to assimilate and accumulate information which was commercially advantageous to them in the cheapest possible way? Is that practice continuing or has it fallen off?

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Rory O'Hanlon: The question refers specifically to the Department of the Taoiseach.

Freedom of Information. (4 May 2004)

Bertie Ahern: I can answer for my own Department because it is easy to do so. The answer is "yes". Companies have stopped using the Act even though the costs are low. Due to the practice being highlighted so much in the debate and in various discussions, it is not being used by commercial interests. Some companies were using it as a service to gather the information but that practice has ceased.