Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raised this issue on Second Stage and it was discussed at length during Dáil proceedings. In the Dáil, a new section 27, which introduced the new fees regime, was inserted. While it eliminated the standard €15 charge, it has not eliminated fees in their entirety. There is concern that it will undermine rather than enhance a rights-based regime of access to information in so far as it makes access to certain kinds of information dependent not on need or public interest but on ability to pay or the cost to the State. In some cases, applicants could be required to pay a charge that is many multiples of the previously imposed €15 standard charge. The Government amendment provided the power to refuse requests on administrative grounds due to time and cost and, in addition, required applicants to pay a deposit before any information, search or retrieval work commenced.

The Minister has spoken about the open data regime. Once that is up and running, it should significantly reduce the need and therefore the demand for freedom of information requests. There should be no introduction of a new fees regime prior to the completion of the open data regime. While I accept that there will be an open data regime, eliminating the fees regime until that point is a possibility if the Minister introduces further amending legislation.