Results 6,641-6,660 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge what the Minister has changed in respect of the section. The Minister encountered significant and justified opposition to the original proposal. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin opposed it strongly, as did many freedom of information advocates. What was originally proposed was wrong but, in fairness, what the Minister has come back with-----
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: It was not; it was a disimprovement. I am about to praise the Minister.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: The reality is that no one will be turned away from freedom of information because of the section. This proves that the Shinners - let us call them what they are - are against everything.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: No fair assessment of the section could criticise it. We provided fair criticism of the section in the Dáil because what was originally proposed was outrageous. The Minister listened and changed it, and we should acknowledge that rather than saying "No". That is not the talk of a government, and it is no wonder Sinn Féin is thinking about pulling out of the Northern Ireland Executive.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 21: In page 50, line 11, after “member” where it firstly occurs to insert “of Dáil Éireann, Seanad Eireann, or”.I am curious as to why the private papers of Members of the Oireachtas are not mentioned in the section. They were not mentioned in the original Bill. They are mentioned in the Constitution but the Constitution does not...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: That is the point. There are no Standing Orders in that regard.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Can the Minister not accept the amendment to cover it in the other section?
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: In this section, are we not giving an exemption to the private papers of MEPs and councillors? The section states that a head shall refuse to grant a freedom of information request if the record concerned consists of the private papers of a Member of the European Parliament or a member of a local authority. What is the effect of that?
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Why can the Minister not include Members of the Oireachtas? It is a different matter if we make Standing Orders. This matter is about freedom of information and those documents would be privileged from court action.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Yes, if we enact Standing Orders, which we have not done.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: At the moment, a private e-mail that I send to someone could be requested under freedom of information because the Houses of the Oireachtas have never acted on that constitutional provision.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: That is a major gap. The idea that the local county councillor has more-----
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: He does, because while the request in respect of the counsellor will be refused, Members are exempt in the same circumstances if Standing Orders are introduced. The constitutional provision has nothing to do with freedom of information, because the concept had not been heard of in 1937. It has to do with court proceedings and all sorts of privilege. It is much wider than freedom of...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: A health Estimate is put before the Dáil as well and it is voted on. It also votes on the President's Vote.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: Yes, but we often do not often find out details until we send in numerous FOI requests. We do not find out how the money was spent or whether it was spent rightly or wrongly until a response to an FOI request issues. The fact that it is voted on in the Dáil is surely enough to make it subject to FOI and the Minister should consider that. There must be a way of drafting this to exclude...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: But the Accounting Officer is exempt from FOI.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: But his functions are exempt from the FOI legislation because he is in the President's office. That is no reflection on the incumbent, who is a good person. The officeholder changes from time to time. Is the Minister happy that one branch of the Civil Service is excluded under the legislation? He is essentially arguing in favour of this. The Dáil votes on the money provided to the...
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: The Minister introduced that equation into the debate.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 12: In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:“(b) receivers and administrators working for/employed by the National Asset Management Agency;”.
- Seanad: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (25 Sep 2014)
Thomas Byrne: I move amendment No. 15: In page 25, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"11. The Minister shall, within 12 months of the enactment of this Act, make provision for the establishment of a database to include all information released under the Act and such database shall be made available to the public.".