Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a commencement order has not been signed to bring the National Asset Management Agency within the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47680/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, a commencement order is not required to make the National Asset Management Agency subject to FOI under the Act. All the provisions, other than section 8 relating to publication schemes, came into effect on the date of enactment, that is on 14th October 2014.

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 intend that all such bodies will be subject to F.O.I. on 14th April 2015 unless a compelling case is made to me to apply a later commencement date.