Pictured in the University of Limerick for the one day Conference examining the impact of 15 years of the Freedom of Information Act in Ireland were (l-r)Tom Felle, Journalism Lecturer & Conference Organiser, Minister for Public Enterprise & Reform, Brendan Howlin, TD & President of the University of Limerick Professor Don Barry.
15 years of the Freedom of Information Act Examined at the University of Limerick
Monday, 11th February 2013
Representatives of Government departments and public service organisations; legislators; academics; members of the media and other interested parties gathered at the University of Limerick today (11th February 2013) to participate in a one-day conference examining the impact of 15 years of the Freedom of Information Act in Ireland.
The conference entitled ‘The Right to Know’ will brought together over 50 professionals to critically examine the legislation, arguably one of the most important laws on the Irish Statute Book. The one-day event heard from a range of speakers on issues including the operation and impact of FOI in Ireland and the possible extension of the Act to cover An Garda Siochana.
The conference was addressed by the Minister for Public Enterprise and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly, Ian Readhead, Director of Information for the Association of Chief Police Officers and a number of other guests.
Head, Department of Politics and Public Administration Dr Maura Adshead said: “Irish democracy has opened up dramatically since the introduction of FOI in 1997 – but many of the well drafted provisions in the original legislation were filleted out by the 2003 Amendment Act.”
“Open government legislation is important because it keeps government honest – administrations during the Celtic Tiger years were shielded from such transparency since 2003. The conference is an important occasion to critically examine the importance of transparency in the modern Irish state,” she added.
Journalism Lecturer and Conference Organiser Tom Felle said: “FOI is important because it keeps government honest. In 15 years since the legislation has been introduced Irish society has changed dramatically, and has opened up considerably. It would be unacceptable today for TDs expenses, for example, to be hidden. But far too many areas - most notably An Garda Siochana – remain hidden from public scrutiny. This conference gives us the opportunity to examine how the legislation has operated and here plans for its reform.”
The conference is co-hosted by the Department of Politics and Public Administration and the Journalism Section, University of Limerick.