Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Finance the public bodies and agencies exempted from the full remit of the Freedom of Information legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39252/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently over 500 public bodies subject to Freedom of Information. In general, when bodies are being brought within the remit of FOI, extension is in respect of all records held by these bodies in respect of all of their functions. In a certain limited number of cases full extension on this basis may not be appropriate having regard to particular functions or particular records held by the bodies in question. The bodies I mention are subject to FOI on a partial basis only.

Bodies to whom the FOI Act applies in respect of certain records only in accordance with Section 46 of the FOI Act: the Courts, a Tribunal to which the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 is applied, a Service Tribunal within the meaning of section 161 of the Defence Act 1954, Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, Office of the Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions Office of the Information Commissioner, Office of the Ombudsman, Comptroller and Auditor General, Presidents Establishment, Health and Safety Authority, Ombudsman for Children and Pensions Ombudsman.

Bodies to whom FOI has been extended in respect of certain functions only: National Standards Authority of Ireland, Labour Relations Commission, RTE — Radio Telefís Éireann, RTE Commercial Enterprises Limited, RTE Music Limited, Seirbhísí Theilifís Na Gaeilge Teoranta, DTT Network Company, TG4, Brothers of Charity, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lota, Glanmire, Co. Cork; Brothers of Charity, Kilcornan House, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway; Brothers of Charity, Mid-West Region, Bawnmore, Limerick; Brothers of Charity, Lanesboro Street, Roscommon; Brothers of Charity, Belmont Park, Waterford; Camphill Communities of Ireland, Ballytobin, Callan, Co. Kilkenny; Cheeverstown House Limited (providing a service for people with a mental handicap), Templeogue, Dublin 6W; COPE Foundation, Bonnington, Montenotte, Cork; Daughters of Charity, Navan Road, Dublin 7; Galway County Association for Mental Handicapped Children, The Halls, Quay Street, Galway; Hospitaller Order of St John of God, Hospitaller House, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin; Irish Sisters of Charity, St. Patrick's, Kells Road, Kilkenny; KARE, Co. Kildare Association of Parents & Friends of Handicapped People, Lower Eyre Street, Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Peamount Hospital, Newcastle, Co. Dublin; Rosminian Services, St. Patrick's, Upton, Innishannon, Co. Cork; Sisters of the Bon Sauveur, Residential & Day Care for Persons with a Mental Handicap, Carriglea, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford; Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary, Moore Abbey, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare; Sisters of La Sagesse, Cregg House, Sligo; Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary, St Anne's Service, Sean Ross Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary; Sisters of Charity of Jesus & Mary, St. Mary's, Delvin, Co. Westmeath; Stewarts Hospital Services Limited, Palmerstown, Dublin 20; Sunbeam House Services, SHS, Cedar Estate, Killarney Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow; St Mary of the Angels, Residential Special Home & Training Centre for Children, Beaufort, Co. Kerry; St. Michael's House, Ballymun Road, Ballymun, Dublin 9; Western Care Association, Incorporating the Mayo Association of Parents & Friends of Mentally Handicapped Children, Pool Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Arrangements are under way for the extension of FOI on a partial basis to a further group of public bodies including the Labour Court, Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, and Vocational Education Committees.