FoI Act set to include gardaí

The Government has reiterated its intention to extend the Freedom of Information Act to include bodies such as An Garda Síochána.

Brian Hayes, a junior minister, said the Government intended to publish proposals on the reform of the act in the coming weeks. It will be extended to include all bodies in receipt of “significant” public funding.

It will be partially extended to An Garda Síochána, so administrative records can be sought. Sensitive files relating to security or intelligence matters will not be covered.

The Programme for Government had pledged an overhaul of the FOI Act to ensure “that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered”.

Mr Hayes said that work was under way by the public reform minister to fulfil that commitment.

Mr Hayes said: “It is planned to bring proposals to the Government in the coming weeks to secure approval for the drafting of amending legislation that will reform the act.”

He was speaking during a Dáil debate on alternative legislation proposed by Fianna Fáil to overhaul the act.

The government of the day usually rejects legislation put forward by opposition parties. However, the Government did not do that yesterday. Instead, Mr Hayes welcomed the bill and singled out its author, Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming, for praise. He said the bill had made a valuable contribution to debate on the issue.

Mr Fleming welcomed the Government accepting the principle of his party’s legislation. He said this ensured bodies such as the Central Bank, Nama, and the NTMA would be covered by FOI once the act was overhauled.