Fees for free information misguided

PUBLIC Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has made a last ditch attempt to thwart transparency with a cynical amendment he has looked to slip into the new Freedom of Information bill.

This measure was never floated in the public consultation process or during the Oireachtas hearings, but emerged with just days to go to this week’s committee stage vote.

The minister might argue, contrary to statistical evidence, that it is a designed to reduce the cost of dealing with requests across the public sector. However, had his amendment been in place two years ago, it would in all likelihood have cost the State €37,500 on one request alone.