Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly has called for a full independent review of Freedom of Information legislation.
Ms O'Reilly said there would be huge advantages in opening up a number of bodies including gardaí, the Refugee Applications Commissioner and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal to its scrutiny.
Speaking at a conference to mark ten years of the Freedom of Information Act, Ms O'Reilly asked whether the Department of Justice is blocking the opening up of policing and immigration matters to the scrutiny of FOI, and if so, why.
In relation to the refugee bodies, she said that there is no justification for their exclusion as their activities have a critical impact on the fundamental rights and life of individuals.
She also said that if FOI derived from the Constitution, then it is very unlikely that critical areas of Government would remain out of bounds to the public in terms of FOI.
