Joe O'Toole (Independent)

That is fine. Section 12(e) is the meat of the legislation, without which I would support many of the changes being introduced by the Government. As I stated during my Second Stage speech, the crucial issues to which we object are all included in this section which is inconsistent with the report of the high level group. As I recall – I stand to be corrected – the group did not mention special advisers. The Information Commissioner states it is clear the intention of the Freedom of Information Act, as originally framed, differs from that of the high level group.

The principal Act contains certain protections for communications between Ministers. The Bill proposes to substitute the definition of Government in section 19 with a new definition. It states:

'Government' includes–

(a) a committee of the Government, that is to say, a committee appointed by the Government whose membership consists of–