The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, has rejected calls to make significant changes in the Government's legislation to impose restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act, it emerged last night, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent
The Dáil will begin the Committee Stage debate on the legislation this afternoon. The Minister published a number of mostly technical amendments last night.
However, he has agreed to give parents and guardians freedom to change incorrect details held on State files about children. This concession will also apply to disabled people.
The change had been sought by leading anti-child abuse campaigner Mr Colm O'Gorman. Labour TD Ms Joan Burton had already tabled an amendment to this effect.
Senior civil servants will be required to reveal annually the number of certificates they sign banning the release of various documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
However, Mr McCreevy appears to have ignored warnings that his decision to ban the publication of advice prepared by official committees could create constitutional problems.
In other areas the Minister has accepted that the FoI Act could be used to research a subject, for example child abuse in religious-run homes, once a tribunal investigating the matter has concluded its work and reported.
Mr McCreevy has brought in a last-minute amendment that will allow for different categories of fees to be imposed on different types of Freedom of Information applicants.
The Minister has made a change to his original legislation to ensure that people are able to appeal a refusal to grant a document in the time allowed. However, one barrister warned that the change did not solve the problem.