Irish FOIA: Requests down 30% since curbs

REQUESTS under the Freedom of Information Act have declined by almost30pc since the Government introduced restrictions three months ago.

According to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who obtained the figures in a series ofparliamentary questions, the drop demonstrated how the Government had "achieved their objective in strangling this essential instrument of openness and transparency."

He said new charges, from next Monday, will see the trend continue.

The highest decline in requests was to the Department of the Taoiseach, down 70pc, followed by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, down 66pc. Other Departments tosee a dramatic fall in numbers of requests include Foreign Affairs, down 65pc, and theDepartment of Finance, down 64pc.

Report: Irish Independent 5th July 2003