Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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192. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to extend the remit of the Freedom of Information Acts to cover the Citizens’ Assembly in view of the absolute need for transparency in its operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Freedom of Information Act 2014 extended the remit of the legislation to a further 70 public bodies, bringing the overall total to some 600 bodies comprehended by the Act.  The Act provides a very broad definition of public bodies at Section 6(1) and further provides that all new public bodies comprehended by this definition will automatically come under freedom of information (FOI) legislation, unless specifically exempted by order. This reversed the system under previous legislation whereby new bodies would have to be brought into the scope of the legislation by order.

The Act also provides the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the power to make an order bringing a body under the Commissioner's remit if it is financed, wholly or partly, or directly or indirectly by means of monies provided by a Minister of the Government.  I am sure that the Deputy would share the view that there has been substantial progress and a planned and structured approach of continuing to extend the Commissioner's remit is one that he would share.

With regard to the Citizen's Assembly, I am advised that FOI does not apply in this case as the body does not meet the criteria set out in Section 6 (1) of the Act.  The Assembly is a temporary body which I understand has been operating in an open and transparent way with regard to its operations.  For example on its websitewww.citizensassembly.ie you may find details on the assembly itself, copies of the submissions made and reports of all meetings, which are also live streamed at the time.  In the circumstances, I currently have no plans to extend the remit of the legislation to the Assembly.