Bruton accuses Govt of stifling FOI debate

Evidence given in today's sitting of the Oireachtas Finance and Public Service Committee suggests the Government tried deliberately to stifle debate on amending the Freedom of Information Act, Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton TD said today.

The Committee learned today that the decision not to allow wider consultation on amending the Freedom of Information Act was taken by the Government, and not by the five civil servants asked to conduct the review, Deputy Bruton said.

"The decision not to consult the Information Commissioner or other interested parties on amendments to the Freedom of Information Act was made by the Government, not by civil servants.

"It is also clear that the Government's Bill is far more restrictive than the recommendations of the civil servants' group. The Committee has failed to establish who in Government prompted the review or why it decided not to engage in more extensive consultation."