Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

The 102 task forces, committees, etc., currently operating under the aegis of the Department of Health and Children – which provide cover for the Minister and replace the need for decision-making in his Department – would obviously come under the exemption contained in this provision. The section also provides that it is mandatory for the workings and writings of these officials to be exempt. This is the extent of the blanket of secrecy thrown around Government decisions. As Senator O'Toole said, this is very much personified in the section. It goes to the heart of the intention behind this amending legislation, which is concerned with covering decision-making. The Bill is also concerned with covering documents produced during the process of decision-making, a matter to which Senator Mansergh referred.

I ask the Minister of State to provide an example of one Government decision that has been harmed, undermined or affected in a negative fashion by the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, particularly concerning documents relative to the deliberative process. I was quite interested to read Frank McDonald's article about Stadium Ireland in today's edition of The Irish Times. That article might explain why the Taoiseach has proposed the legislation. The freedom of information legislation allowed the public to find out about the potential overrun on the Taoiseach's pet project, Stadium Ireland. This revealed how much it would could cost the taxpayer and how decisions were being made. Is that why the Bill is before us today?