Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 March 2003

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

 

The presentation which was well made by the group of high level civil servants answers the problem raised by Senator O'Meara and makes the case for the change. It boils down to freedom of the deliberative process. If there is an insistence on advice, committee proceedings and such matters being made public immediately, it will alter the nature of the advice in documentation. If we want good government, we need civil servants and advisers to present their cases in writing. It is not good enough to conduct everything verbally because verbal advice cannot as easily be taken home to be looked over to consider if it is right or wrong. There needs to be a system of minute keeping and making committee reports. They are good and such a system will be seriously stymied if there is an insistence on their being available immediately. The core of the case made by the high level group and in the Bill is a good one.

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