FF have something to hide about past cabinet papers?

gurramok

Indo wrote:

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has been criticised for the censoring of cabinet papers released yesterday for the first time under the Freedom of Information Act.
Although there were 81 records for two cabinet meetings in April 1998, more than half of them were withheld or partially released. The records blocked include minutes of cabinet meetings in which decisions were taken on house prices, appointments to state bodies and a "conference centre proposal".
The row comes after Mr Lenihan told the Dail earlier this week he had "no issue" with cabinet papers being released after ten years, instead of 30 years as had been the case.
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Lenihan comes under fire for censoring FOI papers
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/lenihan-comes-under-fire-for-censoring-foi-papers-1399606.html

This seems sinister blocking info from 10 years ago which even may contain actions and words by present politicians.

And guess what, house prices and the conference centre proposal are construction related and we know how FF have been cosy to the construction industry.
The other on state of appointments, there have been some dubious ones over the years including Bertie's ex Celia on the National Consumer Agency.

gandalf

Maybe Bertie was giving racing tips at them

angelfire9

It used to be a 30 year rule, so that the politicians who made decisions at cabinet level would be more than likely retired/dead by the time the papers were release so I wouldn't have a problem with "censorship" in this situation as most of the politicans are still around & still at cabinet!

Colonel Sanders

angelfire9 wrote: »

It used to be a 30 year rule, so that the politicians who made decisions at cabinet level would be more than likely retired/dead by the time the papers were release so I wouldn't have a problem with "censorship" in this situation as most of the politicans are still around & still at cabinet!

your point being? lets say (hypothetically) there's sensitive info being hidden about a TD. would you prefer s/he got to serve a few more terms in the Dail before anything was exposed?

angelfire9

Colonel Sanders wrote: »

your point being? lets say (hypothetically) there's sensitive info being hidden about a TD. would you prefer s/he got to serve a few more terms in the Dail before anything was exposed?

It depends on the info obviously, personal stuff that doesn't affect his/her ability to do the job then certainly YES
The point i was making is that in Government sometimes members of the cabinet have to make unpopular decisions and in some cases its better to look back at things historically when the people in question are no longer around than criticising them while they're still in government

dresden8

Releasing some but not all is going to inevitably raise conspiracy theories about what is not being released.

Bad move in my opinion.