Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

In Canada, the Act does not apply for 20 years to a long and non-exhaustive list of Cabinet confidences, including communications used for rejecting communications or discussions between Ministers of the Crown on matters relating to the making of Government decisions and the formation of Government policy. Neither does it apply to records the purpose of which is to brief Ministers of the Crown in relation to matters that are before Cabinet. In the UK, specific protection is afforded to ministerial communications. Protection is also afforded to information which would or would be likely to prejudice the maintenance of the convention of collective ministerial responsibility or which would or would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views for the purpose of deliberation.

When one looks around the free world, we have a very liberal regime here.