Seanad debates

Wednesday, 12 March 2003

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

 

These amendments have the same purpose, which is to limit the impact of the extension from five to ten years to those decisions the Attorney General is willing to certify as vital to the national interest. I have cast the net quite wide regarding areas the Attorney General could define in that way. We are saying the five-year rule should apply in normal circumstances, but that, in extreme circumstances where the national interest is determined by the Attorney General as being central to the release of these records, he or she would have to certify those decisions. The areas are the same in the three amendments and if the Attorney General certifies the decisions they will be kept under wraps for ten years. That is, if the Attorney General certifies in writing that the said decision is on a matter of vital national importance in that it relates to an issue of public health or safety, national security or the vital economic interests of the State, upon the Attorney General so certifying, a period of ten years shall be required before subsection (1) shall apply.

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