Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

The commissioner is not a Member of either House of the Oireachtas or of the Government. This is a Bill introduced by the Government to the Oireachtas. The commissioner stated clearly that it would be entirely inappropriate for him to engage in public debate on the merits or demerits of the Bill. He said that the Constitution provides that the sole and exclusive power to make laws for the State is vested in the Oireachtas and that it is the role of the Information Commissioner, in relation to the Freedom of Information Act, to implement the legislation passed by the Oireachtas in an independent and impartial manner.