Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 10, line 33, to delete “21 April 2008” and substitute “1 January 2007”.

This issue was discussed during the proceedings in the Dáil. It concerns the date on which the entity was not considered to be a public body within the meaning of the 1997 Act but is proposed to be considered to be a public body under the new legislation. Why was the date of 21 April 2008 chosen? The amendment proposes - my party made this proposal in the Dáil - that a retrospective period of seven calendar years be used. It is important for the sake of public confidence, as well as in the interests of open government, transparency and accountability, that a period that is potentially relevant to accessing information on the economic crisis not be excluded on the basis of being out of time. That is the reason for the change of date proposed in the amendment.