Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his policy towards the extension of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 to include An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27019/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As part of a general review of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act last year, the extension of the Act to An Garda Síochána was considered. That consideration involved an examination of all factors relevant to the governance, oversight and accountability of An Garda Síochána.

Since the passage of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 An Garda Síochána and the regulatory and administrative landscape in which it operates has been undergoing massive change. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has been established. The Garda Inspectorate has been established and has produced three reports with major implications for the structure and operation of the Garda Síochána. In the past year the senior civilian management positions of Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Communications have been created. Further civilians are currently being recruited for key posts as Legal Advisor, Director of Information and Communications Technology and Director of Change Management. At the same time the ranks of attested members and the numbers of civilian staff have been expanding.

In light of this extensive and fast-moving change it was decided that to extend the FOI Act to the Gardaí at this time would place an excessive administrative burden on the resources of An Garda Síochána as the Force continues to discharge its challenging core duties, in particular that of tackling crime. For all these reasons it was decided not to extend the FOI Act to An Garda Síochána at this time, but to keep the matter under review. In this regard, I intend to be guided by the overall public interest which lies in maintaining an appropriately accountable police force which is not distracted from its key tasks of safeguarding public safety and security.