Civil servants to explain proposed FoI restrictions

The Dáil's Finance and Public Service Committee is due to discuss the Government's planned restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act later today.

The committee will hear submissions from the five civil servants who drew up a report recommending that the 1997 legislation be watered down to prevent the release of certain Government papers.

The Government has proposed several major changes to the Freedom of Information Act, including an extension of the time limit on the release of cabinet papers from five to 10 years.

The Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition also wants to withhold all communications between Government ministers and all documents relating to issues that are still the subject of "deliberations".