The University of Limerick has announced today (18th December 2012) that it will host a one-day conference examining the impact of 15 years of the Freedom of Information Act in Ireland on Monday, February 11, 2013.

The conference entitled ‘The Right to Know’ will bring together professionals working in Government departments and public service organisations; legislators; academics; the media and other interested parties to critically examine the legislation, arguably one of the most important laws on the Irish Statute Book.

The one-day event will hear 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 will be 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, London Metropolitan Police 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 will be an important occasion to critically examine the importance of transparency in the modern Irish state,” she added.

Head of Journalism section Tom Felle said: “FOI 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 will be an important occasion 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, and is open to the public. Attendance costs €40 including lunch.

Full details are available here