Labour: More transparency needed in Freedom of Information regime

The Labour Party is calling for the return of a more transparent Freedom of Information regime.

The party's finance spokesperson, Joan Burton, says the current fee structure - introduced by the Government in 2003 - needs to be scrapped.

She has called the fact that people have to pay between $15 and €150 to request information a "cynical ploy" by the Government to discourage people from making queries.

Ms Burton is also calling for the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to be extended to include a number of key bodies, including the gardaí.