Seanad debates
Thursday, 20 March 2003
Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages.
In this context, it is clear that the requirement for public notice of a delegation made by the head of a public body in Iris Oifigiúil is of questionable value. I understand the purpose of substitute amendment No. 9 to which Senator Henry refers is to hold the head of a public body to account to the Information Commissioner for failing to comply with the requirement of public notice as set out under section 4(5) of the principal Act. While I have explained the reason it is proposed to remove the requirement to publish such a notice, I am not sure that it is necessary to single out a particular provision of the Act in this way. The principal Act contains provisions to ensure the effective monitoring of compliance with the Act generally or any particular provision or provisions, for example, the powers of the Information Commissioner as set out under section 36 whereby he or she can carry out an investigation at any time into the practices and procedures adopted by a public body or public bodies generally for the purpose of compliance with the Act generally or any of its provisions.
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