Information laws 'corroded process of Government'

Laws compelling ministers to disclose information to the public have corroded the process of Government, it was claimed today.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the country’s Freedom of Information Act has had a “huge negative effect“.

Michael McDowell was defending plans to keep official documents and records secret for 10 years rather than five by restricting the Act.

“One of the consequences of the Freedom of Information Act which isn’t generally appreciated is the huge negative effect it has had on the process of government itself,” Mr McDowell said.

“Unless you are sitting at a minister’s desk or in my case the Attorney General’s desk, you would not be aware of the extent at which it has corroded the process of Government.”

He said on the radio that the law prevented people having frank, honest and intellectual discussions, and that life would be very different if groups protesting at the planned changes to the Act had to publish details of their own meetings.

“If the NUJ’s (National Union of Journalists’) executive committee’s minutes were published on the front of the Irish Times it would be a very different organisation,” he said.

He added: “We live in a democracy where some processes have to be done in privacy.”

The Government was accused by civil liberties groups and opposition parties of encouraging a culture of secrecy by proposing amendments to the Act.

Opposition politicians claimed the plans – announced yesterday by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy – represented a “bad day for Irish democracy“.

Under the proposals Cabinet records would only be available for viewing after 10 years, rather than the current five-year period. Communications between ministers on matters relating to Government business would also be protected.

Mr McCreevy said a fee would be introduced for people wishing to gain information through the Act.