Written answers

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Freedom of Information Remit

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the anticipated benefits of removing the provisions for publication schemes as provided for in section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act; if the proposed section 8 of the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 provides an alternative to this provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54797/13]

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 will affect the proactive disclosure of information and publications schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54798/13]

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the proactive disclosure of information, also referred to as publications schemes, under freedom of information provisions; the anticipated impact of the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 on proactive disclosure and publication schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54525/13]

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason behind replacing sections 15 and 16 of Freedom of Information Act as amended with a single section in the Freedom of Information Bill 2013, section 8; the expected benefits of making this change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54531/13]

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 112, inclusive, together.

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill 2013 replaces Sections 15 and 16 of the existing 1997 Act and provides instead that each public body will publish a publication scheme instead of the Section 15 and 16 manuals. Given technological and ICT developments in the 15 years since FOI was first introduced, the migration of such information to websites and international best practice, these manuals are not considered an effective way of promoting the proactive publication of information into the public domain.

Guidance on the publication schemes will be provided under the Code of Practice on the implementation of the Act which I intend to bring to Government shortly. It is my intention that the publication schemes will provide for the publication of extensive information on the nature, role, responsibilities and activities of public bodies including the structure, classes of records held, rules relating to any schemes implemented, services provided and so on. This is intended to facilitate much more proactive publication of information by public bodies thus making official information more accessible outside of FOI on a routine basis. Greater publication of official data and information is also consistent with the Government’s commitment to participate in the multilateral Open Government Partnership. In that regard, the Deputy will recall my announcement of a major open data initiative at the Open Government Partnership summit in London last month.

The Deputy’s attention is also drawn to the fact that Section 8 of the new Bill provides that the information contained in the publication scheme will be reviewed at least on an annual basis and that, in the case of a person unable to access a website and who requests details of the nature of records held by a public body, details will be provided in written form.

Following a public consultation process on the draft Code, it is planned that the final Code of Practice, once approved by Government, will be introduced in tandem with the commencement of the reformed Freedom of Information legislation.

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