No decision yet on secrecy rule

THE Taoiseach has refused to set a date "on whether or when" a referendum will be held to relax the rule on absolute Cabinet …

THE Taoiseach has refused to set a date "on whether or when" a referendum will be held to relax the rule on absolute Cabinet confidentiality.

Responding to questions from the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Ahern, he told the Dail he was not certain it would be possible to draft wording that they could stand over.

"We will endeavour to do so but the difficulties have been set out in detail, particularly on collective responsibility," he added.

Mr Bruton repeated that no decision had been taken other than that they were not in a position to introduce an amendment to the Constitution on Cabinet confidentiality this year.

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He assured Mr Ahern, however, that it was his firm intention to enact the Freedom of Information Bill and the Ministers and Secretaries Bill "as a Government before we seek a renewed term of office".

Mr Ahern received no response to his request to the Taoiseach to publish the documents and the options that the Government had looked at so they could see what had been rejected or was still being considered.

In an RTE interview later, Mr Ahern said he wanted these documents to be placed in the Dail library so they could debate the issue.

He agreed that he was not persuaded himself of the need to change the rule. There was no objective method of recording discussions at Cabinet at the moment. There was no minute of ministerial discussions at all. The only record was oral memories.

This issue, he continued, was linked to openness, transparency and accountability, the accusations made "against me and my colleagues in Government".