Minister defends changes to secrecy law
Plans to keep official documents secret for twice as long by restricting the Freedom of Information Act were defended by Communications Minister Dermot Ahern today.
Many countries are envious of the Ireland’s liberal disclosure of Cabinet papers, Communications Minister Ahern said.
The minister was speaking as politicians in the Seanad prepared to debate an amendment to the Act, which would make papers available to the public after 10 years rather than the current five.
“In regard to Cabinet papers, there is no other country in Europe, as far as we know, that has as liberal a system as ours,” Mr Ahern said.
He said other countries such as the UK – where records are kept secret for 30 years – would look at the situation in Ireland “enviously“.
The Government was accused by civil liberties groups and opposition parties of encouraging a culture of secrecy by proposing amendments to the Act last week.
Communications between ministers on matters relating to Government business would also be protected, and a fee would be introduced for people seeking information.
“The five-year rule tended to have a negative effect,” Mr Ahern said on radio.
“It was too short a time on the deliberations of Government and I saw that as a minister – having been a minister previously when there was no Freedom of Information.
“When a minister brings forward a proposal it is circulated to all Government departments for observations. Government departments then put up their observations.
“It is accepted now that there has tended to be a change in that people are keeping one eye on the Freedom of Information Act, not only in regard to Cabinet papers but generally.”
He added that in some cases information was gained under the Act before the process had even been completed.
“That’s something that was never envisaged under the existing legislation,” he said.
