Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 March 2003

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

 

I do not have a problem with, for example, using the term "primarily" as in documents prepared primarily for the purposes of transaction. There are difficult problems sometimes in government which are delegated to committees, be they comprised of a Minister and officials or just officials or whatever, to try to find a solution. It is not a blanket exemption for any committee on any subject. I remember Senator McDowell's main concern last week was the proceedings of the tax strategy group and I said that my understanding was that they would be continued to be released subject to the Minister's caveat about what would still be part of the deliberative process. It was clear to me that the group was not covered. The Senator should be reassured that such an advisory group is not covered by the legislation.

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