The Freedom Of Information Bill 2013

On 24 July, 2013, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (the "Minister") published the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 (the "Bill"). The Bill will repeal and replace the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 (the "FOIA"), and proposes that most regulations made under the FOIA will cease to have effect.

As well as consolidating, modernising and updating FOI legislation generally, the explanatory memorandum states that its purpose is to:

• remove the main restrictions on access to official information introduced by the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 (the "2003 Act");
• extend FOI to all public bodies; and
• provide a framework for the extension of FOI to non-public bodies receiving significant funding from the Exchequer.