Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I do not believe in blanket confidentiality clauses. I am of the view that the basic principle regarding the exemptions which apply to freedom of information is that people should do their business in public, except where it needs to be done in private. This would enable those who have legitimate professional concerns of the type to which Senator Henry referred in respect of the blood transfusion board to raise them with the body by which they were appointed. Blanket confidentiality is an attempt to silence lay people. Many public servants on boards to a degree feel entitled to discuss with their managements matters about which the other members are unaware. On previous occasions when discussing similar confidentiality clauses with other Ministers, I was informed that civil servants must be in a position to inform their Departments about what they are doing on particular boards. My view is that the law states they cannot do so.