A FREEDOM OF Information (FOI) request to access a ‘secret diary’ kept by a government minister of official meetings has been denied.

The application by the Sunday Times follows the Minister for Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte revealing that he keeps such a diary as some meetings are of a ‘commercially sensitive’ nature.

The minister told RTÉ Radio 1 that he does this “deliberately” and “to prevent the contents being released under FOI”. Other meetings are recorded in a digital diary, which can be accessed.

We want to know what you think: Should ministers be allowed to keep a secret diary of official meetings?

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