Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 528: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [1709/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Proposals for extending freedom of information are being developed in the Department of Finance in the context of plans to extend it to other appropriate bodies by the end of 2005. The extension of freedom of information to the additional bodies under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is being considered in this context. The organisations in question are the Employment Appeals Tribunal — administrative functions only, Science Foundation Ireland, the company law review group, the Crafts Council, the European Social Fund financial control unit, the 35 county enterprise boards, Skillnets and the Labour Court — administrative functions only.

There are no proposals to bring certain other bodies, which come under the aegis of the Department and are not subject to freedom of information, within its remit. The bodies in this second group are the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, the European Consumer Centre, the Irish Clearing House for the European Extra Judicial Network, Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta and InterTrade Ireland. No formal decision has been made on when freedom of information will apply to PIAB, which was established quite recently. I consider in principle that some of its functions, such as its administrative functions, should become subject to freedom of information.

It is proposed to review the structure and function of the ECC and EEJ-Net. The extension of freedom of information to such bodies will be considered in the light of the outcome of the review. As NET is simply a shell company that does not engage in any real activity, it is not considered appropriate to extend freedom of information to it. InterTrade Ireland is one of a number of North-South implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. It is expected that the bodies will shortly become subject to a freedom of information code of practice, which will draw on aspects of Irish and UK freedom of information legislation.