Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 March 2003

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages.

 

The Government has to govern, which involves making decisions, but I am not happy with the process it has used in relation to this Bill. There has been a lack of consultation with the users of the Freedom of Information Act. I thought that a certain number of views would be taken into account. I made clear at a meeting of the joint committee that the top level group did precisely what it was asked to do and that the Government was entitled to include the group in the process. The Government was entitled to ask four senior Secretaries General for their views on the Act and to seek advice about aspects of the review. The clear opinions of the civil servants have been published and are available. The focus on the group in some of the commentary on this matter was incorrect.

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