KENNY HAILS REMOVAL FEES FOR OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS

Posted on July 1, 2014 5:47 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Dublin Bay North Labour TD Sean Kenny has hailed the Government's proposal to abolish the €15 application fee for making FOI requests.

"I am pleased that FoI fees have been abolished as this will make it much easier for citizens and journalists working to make available information that is in the public interest."

"I note that Information Commissioner Peter Tyndall has welcomed the Government's move and I know that both he and Emily O'Reilly, the former Information Commissioner did not support the concept of FoI fees. Indeed, they were not part of the original legislation that Labour introduced during the 1992 to 1997 period when in Government."

"I particularly welcome the related decision made today by the Government that will see the publication of a draft Code of Practice regarding Freedom of Information that will be put to public consultation. I think that the commitment in the draft Code to have an authoritive role in ensuring best practise in following through on Freedom of Information requests across the Public Service is very much to be welcomed."