Government accused of arrogant approach to FoI

THE Government was last night accused of adopting an arrogant, “smart alec” attitude to freedom of information requests.

Senior Fianna Fáil backbencher Sean Fleming insisted ministerial departments would achieve better results if they knew the public had greater access to their behind-the-scenes thinking.

The influential Oireachtas Finance and Public Service Committee, which Mr Fleming chairs, is to next month probe claims that a “culture of secrecy” still exists across Government.