Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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189. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding freedom of information legislation; if An Garda Síochána is subject to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46954/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act came into effect on 14 October 2014.

In line with the Programme for Government, the Act provides for the extension of FOI to An Garda Síochána for its administrative records relating to human resources, or finance or procurement matters, subject to security exemptions.

In accordance with Section 1(3)(b) of the FOI Act 2014, in the case of a public body - such as is referred to in the Deputy's question - that was not subject to FOI under the FOI Act 1997 but is subject to FOI under the 2014 Act, the Act will apply to that body 6 months from enactment or on such later day, not later than 12 months from enactment, as the Minister may by order appoint.  Following the recent enactment of the FOI reform legislation I will be consulting with my Government colleagues, as appropriate, on any business case made for the date to which FOI should apply to any specific public body, within the timeframe laid down in the legislation.