merrion street

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin today announced the Government’s plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information legislation and also to extend the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to all public bodies.

Minister Howlin said:

This Government is committed to meaningful political reform. The drafting of comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation is underway, policy proposals on the regulation of lobbying have been published and now the Government has approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information (FOI) and extend the remit of the Ombudsman.

The reform of FOI and its extension to all public bodies is a central pillar of the Government’s political reform agenda. Furthermore, the proposed extension of the Ombudsman Act to all statutory bodies as well as to third-level institutions. Securing greater public access to official information has a critical role to play in strengthening the openness, transparency and accountability of the Irish administrative and political system.

Minister Howlin proposes to submit the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform shortly for its views and will publish his legislative proposals at that time. Drafting of the legislation will commence immediately and the Minister expects to publish the Freedom of Information Bill later this year.