Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be very clear in case the media misunderstand. This has nothing to do with expenses or financial records or anything like that. If anyone makes that mistake he or she will be in trouble and the Minister knows I am clear on this. It is about our private papers, the records we hold about constituents and the papers associated with our parliamentary work. The Constitution does not give carte blanche; it states that we may make Standing Orders on this matter but as far as I am concerned, we have not included that provision in Standing Orders. The Minister is being dismissive, in my view. The Constitution is not about freedom of information. Members of the Oireachtas have complete exemption if we decide to change our Standing Orders. However, the Minister is giving an exemption from freedom of information to councillors and MEPs which he is not giving to Members of the Oireachtas because the Standing Orders do not cover that issue. If we leave it to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges nothing will be done.