Government accused of arrogant approach to FoI
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.
Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly is believed to have made the accusation in a special report sent to the committee. It was sent after her office was only notified that the Health and Safety Authority was no longer covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) after being alerted to the fact by a member of the public rather than by the Finance Department responsible.
Mr Fleming said: “This does seem to have been a very smart alec, arrogant attitude from the Finance Department.
“There is too much old thinking still in Government. Obviously, certain things have to be kept restricted, but there is a need for much greater openness,” he said.
“Government departments will actually achieve more and run better if the people there realise what they do can be examined,” he added.
Mr Fleming said the Government and Fianna Fáil were split over how much access should be allowed to official documents.
Ms O’Reilly’s report to the committee is the first review of justifications made by the 15 Government departments for excluding certain bodies and information from the provisions of the FoI Act of 1997.
The Commissioner expresses serious concerns over the number of public bodies that remain outside the scope of the “open government” legislation.
Bodies currently not covered by the FoI include An Garda Siochána, the Office of Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Central Bank.
