Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

This matter was debated at length in the Dáil. The Freedom of Information Act provides for the extension of the Act to various bodies and states that it is a matter for the Minister for Finance, who is charged by law with this function. A decision on the application of the Act will have to be taken in accordance with normal procedures and I see no reason to depart from established procedures in this case.

The Freedom of Information Act will have to be carefully applied when that happens because data in possession of the authority will consist of information on convictions, proceedings pending against applicants, sensitive information supplied to the gardaí or others on criminal convictions or alleged criminal links and sensitive information that might have a bearing on State security, such as paramilitary involvement in the private security industry. One must tread carefully in all those areas and I prefer that the ordinary process envisaged by the Freedom of Information Act would be followed rather than making a decision on this matter today that might have a negative effect.