Heart torn out of the Information Act

IN the 80-page review of their first year in government, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste were uncharacteristically coy about one significant achievement.

Tucked away at the back there is one mention of the Freedom of Information Amendment Act 2003, but it is not listed in the commentary as an achievement of the Coalition.

Bertie and Mary are effusive in listing their good works and admit that “major milestones have been achieved”.

Having torn the heart out of the Freedom of Information Act the Government has now decided to introduce a range of punitive charges designed to put access to public information outside the range of many citizens.

Tomorrow the Taoiseach will address the biennial conference of the ICTU and will no doubt outline the milestones achieved under the new national partnership programme, ‘Sustaining Progress’.

Here’s one delegate who is looking forward to his justification for dismantling the FoI Act.

Sustaining Progress. What progress?

Seamus Dooley,

Irish Secretary,

National Union of Journalists,

Liberty Hall, Dublin.