Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 723: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the public bodies and agencies within his Department exempted from the full remit of the freedom of information legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2736/06]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003, apply to all public bodies and agencies directly under the aegis of my Department other than Tourism Ireland Ltd. which is not subject to the Freedom of Information Acts. Tourism Ireland Ltd. is a North-South co-operation body accountable to the North-South Ministerial Council and, as is the case with the six North-South implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement, the Freedom of Information Acts do not apply. However, the British-Irish Agreement provides that a code of practice on freedom of information for the North-South bodies. A draft code has been prepared, which takes cognisance of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003, in Ireland and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in the United Kingdom. The draft was the subject of a public consultation process late last year and a final version will be published shortly based on the outcome of that process.