Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the Freedom of Information Bill (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44693/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I understand that this question relates to a concern that Section 17(4) of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill 2013 as published might have unintended effects on FOI requests for electronic records.

An important priority in the Bill is in fact to update and modernise the legislative framework for FOI so that it supports and facilitates requests for electronic records. Subject to further consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and consideration by Government I propose to make an amendment to section 17(4) in order to ensure that it has the desired effect and is expressed in clear and straightforward legal terms.