The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has called for clarification of the Government's plans for the Freedom of Information Act.
Responding to reports that the Government was planning to introduce amendments to the Act, the ICCL said that any step to dilute the legislation would row back on the great progress that had been made in making Irish society more open in recent years. It would be a victory for those who valued secrecy over accountability and transparency, it said in a statement.
"While many elements of the civil service have embraced the new culture of transparency heralded by the Act, other elements of Government and of the public sector are resisting accountability. It now seems that those elements are intent on undermining the progress that has been made.
"At a time when public confidence in politics is low, it would be particularly damaging to public trust and participation in our democracy to take away the most important tool the ordinary citizen has in holding the State accountable," the organisation said.
It said both opposition and Government politicians had frequently pointed out that our freedom of information legislation was based on best practice and had been used as a model for other states.
"Many significant news stories have only been uncovered as a result of the Act, and while some may have proved embarrassing for the Government, in a mature democracy this can hardly be a justification for denying the public access to public information."
It added that arguments against the way the Act functions, based on excessive costs and malicious requests, are already catered for by the nuisance provisions in it.