Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

In reply to Senator O'Toole, training is provided. In my experience, Departments take FOI requests seriously as they do not wish to be in breach of the law. Obviously, there is an information officer co-ordination point but inevitably decisions require a great deal of judgment as to how one applies the rules in the specific instance. I participated in decision making on FOI requests when people would come to me for advice. I do not believe any legislation will ever cover this. That is also true of the National Archives Act. One can be of a liberal frame of mind and decide that one will issue, within the parameters, the maximum possible information or one may be the type of person who tends to play safe – perhaps, in the judgment of many, too safe. While I am not sure that any legislation, however written, will remove that area of judgment, I hope the amended legislation will be interpreted in a liberal spirit.