Newspapers seek Howlin rethink on FoI amendment

The National Newspapers of Ireland has demanded Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin rethink a last-minute amendment he wants to make to the Freedom of Information bill.

The change, set to be tabled in the Dáil today, would give powers to public bodies to split freedom of information requests and charge more money to grant access to records.

The NNI said the amendment, which had not been flagged during an extensive public consultation process, would fly in the face of the spirit of “openness and transparency”.