The Government has agreed to restrict the Freedom of Information Act, but will not publish its proposals until Friday.
It is believed the most significant change will see the removal of a clause which would have enabled the release of Cabinet papers after five years. This could have happened as soon as April, five years after the freedom of information legislation was enacted.
However, a review of the Act carried out by the secretaries general of certain Government Departments is believed to have recommended an extension of the time limit on the release of Cabinet papers. The Government's spokeswoman said last night that the Cabinet had agreed to implement the findings of the review group in full but refused to give further details.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said in the Dáil last week that the release of such papers after five years would create "major difficulties". It was unclear whether the Government had decided to extend the period to 30 years, the normal limit on confidential State papers. Mr Ahern said last week: "Perhaps 30 years is too long but five years is too short." The five-year limit is believed to have been the "central issue of concern" addressed in the report.
There are indications that it also examined the practical operation of the Act within State bodies and Government Departments.
The arrangements for charging fees for information were also examined, it is believed. While certain bodies tend to routinely charge applicants for the release of information, others do not.
The paper by the review group is thought is reflect concern that the five-year limit is short, particularly where a Government sits for more than one term, as is the case currently.
Theoretically, this would have left sitting Ministers exposed to the release of potentially damaging material. In practice, however, a variety of restrictions are already in place, limiting the disclosure of sensitive data.
Moves to restrict the operation of the Act have been strongly criticised by Opposition parties, the National Union of Journalists and academics.
