The Freedom of Information Bill to provide the legal right of access to information held by public bodies.
The government has published the Freedom of Information Bill in what is considered one of the most important changes to the law regarding the public right to know.
According to Minister of State Eithne Fitzgerald,
The Freedom of Information Bill will blow away the cobwebs of secrecy surrounding the details which public bodies have on their files around an individual.
Eithne Fitzgerald believes that the bill will transfer power to ordinary people from those behind closed doors.
The bill provides a person with legal rights to access information held by public bodies and government departments. It also allows for the right to have information amended if incomplete, incorrect or misleading. One of the cornerstones of the legislation is the appointment of an Information Commissioner to oversee an independent appeal system.
They will be entitled to every piece of information that's on public record about them.
The only exceptions in accessing information relate to security and defence. However, certain Garda files will be made available. People will have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner if they are not happy with a decision on accessing information.
The government also intends to introduce a Whistleblower Charter providing civil servants with protection for disclosure in certain circumstances.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 December 1996. The reporter is Charlie Bird.
