Govt 'must explain why documents were suppressed'

The Green Party has called on the Government to explain why it tried to suppress documents relating to the planned closure of a teacher training college in Dublin.

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has criticised the Department of Education for refusing to release the papers to the president of the college.

The documents showed that Education Minister Noel Dempsey ignored a consultant’s report and the advice of his own senior officials, who both recommended that St Catherine’s College of Home Economics be kept open.

Green Party TD Paul Gogarty said: "It’s a matter of public interest what went on there and I’m trying to find out what exactly the role of the Minister for Education was in this.

"If he didn’t have any role, then what’s he going to do to make sure that it doesn’t happen again?"