Seanad debates

Thursday, 20 March 2003

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

 

It is fairly clear what is involved in the deliberative process. The Secretaries General explained what is involved. They have an enormous amount to do and it will place on them an extra burden if they have to decide in each case if something has passed the deliberative process and if it is in the public interest to release it. There is much to be said for simple, straightforward lines rather than making everything endlessly complicated. The Government can publish anything that is an input into a deliberative process and often does so as part of its business of informing public debate and decisions. Senator Maurice Hayes has experience as a Secretary General and I share his view that it is not a good idea to place this extra imposition on them.

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