FoI changes to costs are not best practice

The Dáil is currently examining an amended FoI Bill, which will in practice greatly increase FoI charges, and bring Ireland even more out of line with international best practice in this important area.

The Government claims that the average cost of an FoI request is €600 and pleads our current economic state as the reason for increasing charges. I suspect this figure is as spurious as the €20m the government claimed as the annual cost of running the Seanad.

Surely the staff in the various FoI units are permanent civil servants and get paid anyway regardless of the number of FoI requests? The only costs relating directly to FoI requests are postage and photocopying and sometimes that won’t apply when the material is sent by email! If the government is so concerned about balancing the books may I suggest the abolition of tax-free ‘turning up’ money for TDs and senators who live within normal commuting distance of the Dáil. This would save several millions per year.

Enid O’Dowd

Ranelagh

Dublin 6