Ivana Bacik (Independent)

The facts are very clear. This Government, led by Fianna Fáil, placed restrictions on freedom of information legislation. I have provided the Minister with the opportunity to put on the record the fact that he was too zealous in complying with freedom of information legislation, a fact of which I was not aware. On a more serious note, when it is convenient for the Government, data protection concerns are often used as an excuse for not doing things that could be done easily without infringing data protection legislation, such as publishing house prices. This has been done in other countries where data protection legislation exists and I do not see why we cannot do it here. There are great public benefits to the publication of such information and it would greatly facilitate the housing market reopening and it would increase public confidence in the administration of property sales and purchases. The idea has been tossed around for a long time and I am glad to hear of discussion with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Perhaps a little pressure could be placed on the Department if an amendment were tabled on Report Stage. I ask the Minister to consider this because I will table an amendment on Report Stage.