Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

All public bodies are already captured by the Bill and will remain so. As I explained in my Second Stage contribution, this provision is to broaden FOI to include private bodies in receipt of State funding. However, this needs to be done in a structured manner. Not everybody who from commencement of the legislation receives a bob from the State can be captured. As such, there must be a rational process for doing what is proposed. This is what I am setting out to do. It is my intention that the type of bodies referred to by Senator Norris would be fully captured. There will be people who might receive a donation from the State in some form or other who should not be under the burden of FOI, including small charities and so on. We need to ensure balance in that regard.

I wish to assure Senators that all public bodies will be captured and that the extension to prescribed bodies, which are essentially private bodies who receive some portion of public funding, will be provided for in a way that is practical and proportionate. That is the intention of the Bill.