Charging for Freedom of Information requests and appeals may have "a long term negative effect for [Government] accountability, the Information Commissioner warned today.
In her first public speech, Information Commissioner and Ombudsman Ms Emiliy O'Reilly told the Institute of European Affairs today that the introduction of charges may curtail the "accountability of public bodies to the public generally".
She said she has "little doubt that the scale of the charges will prove a massive disincentive to accessing what is aright - information".
Ms O'Reilly said the end of year figures for FoI requests and appeals would either support her thesis or not.
Ireland has gone from having and Information Act (1997) that was acclaimed as one of the best pieces of legislation of its type to having a Government whose "enthusiasm for the principles for transparency and openness has waned considerably" in some eyes, she said.
From July 7th requests under the Freedom of Information Act cost €15 each, while appeals to the Department will cost €40. Appeals to the Information Commissioner and Ombudsman will cost €150 a time.
When he introduced the charges Mr McCreevy claimed they "will lead to a better appreciation of a service, which has been estimated to cost hundreds of euro on average per FOI request."
Under the new charges, requests for personal information, and any subsequent appeals about such cases, will continue to be free.
The Department of Finance told ireland.comit had no comment on Ms O'Reilly's criticisms.
On the separate issue, of the Ombusdsman Ms O'Reilly said that Ireland remains the only country in the EU which does not have an Ombudsman with jurisdiction over the prison service.
Ms O'Reilly is a former journalist. She was appointed as Information Commissioner and Ombudsman by the Minister for Finance and took up her role on July 1st.
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