Seanad debates

Tuesday, 11 March 2003

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Committee Stage.

 

I have an open mind in respect of commercially sensitive information. I refer here to information relating to semi-State bodies. While I do not want commercially sensitive information that would be of use to competitors of, for example, Aer Lingus, to be in the public arena, it is in our interests, given that these are publicly owned companies, to know a certain amount about their activities. The discretion to release such information in the public interest should be retained. While I appreciate that this section is not being deleted, it will be unenforceable in circumstances where the deciding officer can have the option of neither confirming nor denying whether the information exists in the first instance.

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