Labour to propose repeal of Freedom of Information fees
The Labour Party is to publish proposed legislation next week to repeal fees introduced by the Government for requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.
The fees were imposed in 2003 and have resulted in a significant fall-off in the number of requests made under the legislation.
Speaking in Limerick today, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte accused the Government of deliberately watering down the original act in order to conceal its own mistakes.
He said his party would be publishing a new bill to remove these fees and other restrictions that allow government departments and public bodies to refuse certain Freedom of Information requests.
Mr Rabbitte also said the bill would extend the remit of the legislation to a range of new bodies like the Garda Ombudsman Commission, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the Law Society of Ireland.
