Freedom of Information Act - Extend act to help consumers

THE Freedom of Information Act is one of the great tools in supporting a participatory, transparent democracy. 

The legislation forces reticent agencies or ministries to give an account of their actions though it would be naive to imagine that it is all encompassing, that it ensures complete openness and clarity. In a society where secrecy is a default cultural position anything else would be surprising.

Speaking at a conference on FoI legislation in Kilkenny yesterday Professor William Binchy, former Regius Professor of Laws at Trinity College Dublin, suggested that the act be extended to cover private healthcare companies and producers of medical devices so a consumer might not be disadvantaged in the eventuaity of having to sue one of these entities.