Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of his Department which are not subject to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1997; the reason a body is not subject to the requirements of the Act; and if he envisages proposals to bring any such body within the scope of the Act in the foreseeable future. [1706/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department, which are not subject to the Freedom of Information, FOI, Acts are: An Post; Broadcasting Complaints Commission; ESB; Eirgrid; Bord Gáis Éireann; Bord na Móna; National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA; National Salmon Commission; Irish Maritime Development Office; Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission; port companies; harbour authorities; Commissioners of Irish Lights; Marine Casualty Investigation Board; Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board, ALAB; and Mining Board.

Proposals for extending FOI are being developed at present in the Department of Finance in the context of plans to extend FOI to other appropriate bodies by the end of 2005. The question of extending FOI to the bodies mentioned, where appropriate, is being considered in this context.

The Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission is a North-South Implementation Body established under the British Irish Agreement Act 1999 which states that "the Irish and Northern Ireland Ministers with responsibility for freedom of information will as soon as practicable draw up a code of practice on access to information for approval by NSMC." Preparation of the code of practice is at an advanced stage and it is expected to be implemented during 2005. In addition, the body's sponsoring Department is covered by FOI legislation and any information held by that Department which is common to both the Department and the body is subject to FOI.