Madam, - I am dismayed on several levels concerning the Freedom of Information Act, which has been very important in securing greater accountability of public institutions. Because of the Act, the media and civil society are in a better position to oversee what is done in the public's name.
On one level I am dismayed at the Government's proposal to amend the Act to dilute the public's right to know. I am particularly concerned that potentially far-reaching proposals, which have not yet been seen, will be rushed through the Dáil and Seanad by April 21st next to beat the timeframe for disclosure under section 19 of the Act of Cabinet papers not protected by another exemption.
Has the Freedom of Information Commissioner, Kevin Murphy, who has statutory responsibility under the Act for monitoring its operation, seen any details of these planned changes? I'm given to understand that he has not. An act to amend our laws on openness is being done in secrecy. Should this surprise us?
What is also deeply dismaying is what is being done to close off openness and accountability, right under our noses. In a letter to the Irish Penal Reform Trust earlier this month, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform informed us that unless we pay €220.70 we will not be given the information that we sought (information which ought to already have been in the public arena in the first place). This is a new departure. It is also surely the meanest, if not even an abusive, interpretation of Section 47 of the Act - the section cited by the Department of Justice to us.
NGOs like ours are poorly resourced, as is common knowledge. Therefore, a Government letter like this acts as a deterrent to advocacy. It is the thin edge of the wedge; a step back towards the past.
Finally, there is something profoundly dismaying in knowing that this same Department is headed by a member of a party that has built its reputation on openness and accountability. - Yours, etc.,
Dr VALERIE BRESNIHAN,
Chairperson,
Irish Penal Reform Trust,
Bloomfield Avenue,
Dublin 4.