Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the commitments made in the Programme for Government in relation to amending the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38802/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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In July 2012 the Government approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information to all public bodies and I have submitted the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for its views and recommendations. The General Scheme of the consolidated Freedom of Information legislation was published on my Department’s website in September 2012. I expect to be in a position to publish the Freedom of Information Bill following careful consideration of the views to be furnished by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.