Freedom of Information Act to be extended

The Freedom of Information Act is to be extended to bodies including An Garda Síochána and Nama.

Members of the public should be able to make an application to the Garda in the new year, but only administrative files can be requested. Sensitive files relating to security or intelligence matters will not be covered.

Information commissioner Peter Tyndall said yesterday the gardaí are preparing to deal with a applications when the latest changes to the Freedom of Information Act come on stream.

He said restrictions will apply and a lot of information in garda hands will be subject to a court process and will not be available.

Mr Tyndall said he and his staff expect to be busy when Nama is covered by the new legislation. He said there will be areas where information will be regarded as commercially sensitive and not suitable for release but people can lodge an appeal when turned down.

Mr Tyndall welcomed the abolition of fees and said he was delighted at the measure as the number of requests fell when charges were introduced.

There will also be a little bit more Cabinet information available as a certain automatic sign off by a secretary general had previously excluded certain matters and these can now be requested.