Freedom of Information requests fall but Ahern happy with changes to Act

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday conceded that the number of Freedom of Information requests has fallen since the Government amended the FOI Act earlier this year.

This year’s controversial FOI amendments, which were widely criticised, changed the release of cabinet details from five to 10 years and imposed charges for FOI requests.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, Mr Ahern said: “In so far as my Department is concerned, there appears to have been a fall-off in the number of applications since July. It is probably too early to draw specific conclusions, but undoubtedly the introduction of the fee has had an impact.”