Freedom of information act 2014 amendment of schedule 3 regulations 2016. In light of measures taken in response to the coronavirus covid19 pandemic, stakeholders are asked to please note the position as regards continuity of foi services, given the likelihood of reduced staffing andor closure of offices. Part vi historical records and records in public record office or public record office of northern ireland 62. I, brendan howlin, minister for public expenditure and reform, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 65 of the freedom of information act 2014 no. Internal communications guidance, criteria used for.
Download our guide to making a freedom of information request to failte ireland pdf, 63kb. Examines the clash between national security and the public interest in irelands foi legislation. The method by which information published under this scheme will be. This publication scheme for q2 2016 has been prepared and published in accordance with the requirements of section 8 of the foi act. I 144 of 2015 freedom of information act 2014 exempted.
Guide to making a freedom of information request failte ireland. Such information will continue to be available informally without the need to use the freedom of information foi act. Freedom of information act 2014 an overview mary moranlong phd bl. Act to enable members of the public to obtain access, to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. Freedom of information act 2016 act legislation register. The freedom of information foi act, effective from 21st april 1998, established three new statutory rights.
Recently, however, it has been criticized as ineffective because it is cumbersome and full of loopholes. Nonafile information such as uscis policies, data, or communications. What is the freedom of information act foia the freedom of information act foia is a federal law that gives any person, including u. Freedom of information act definition document for district councils in northern ireland this guidance gives examples of the kinds of information that we would expect district councils in northern ireland to provide in order to meet their commitments under the model. This is an appeal under the freedom of information act. This article examines the impact of britains freedom of information foi act 2000 on british central government. The freedom of information act foia is a law that gives you the right to access information from the federal government. Foi requires government departments, the health service executive, local authorities and other. Apr 14, 2016 2 irish water freedom of information publication scheme introduction irish water is subject to the provisions of the freedom of information act 2014 the foi act. For the authority to keep the information confidential it has to valid legal reasons to do so. The freedom of information act and the dpa 2018 come under the heading of information rights and are regulated by the ico. Foi requests should be submitted in writing by email or post, preferably using a standard request form, to the foi liaison officer. Schedule 1 information disclosure of which is taken to be contrary to the public interest.
Noting that freedom of information is grounded in the public interest to access information, whereas national security typically tries to restrict information to protect the security of the state, the chapter examines legal and constitutional parameters in which the restriction introduction of. The acts are also available for download as pdf files. Foi legislation in ireland and ten years of the operation of the office of the information commissioner. You can check the status of an existing foia request on the check status of foia request page. On date, i requested documents under the freedom of information act.
Nui is committed to promoting transparency though the routine publication of information and will publish further material through the universitys foi publication scheme, prepared under section 8 of the freedom of information act 2014. Freedom of information foi gives you the right to ask any public sector organisation for information they hold. Under the freedom of information act foia, you can request. More comprehensive information on freedom of information, including the text of the freedom of information act 2014 is available at. The passing of the foi amendment act was precipitated. The federal freedom of information act foia, which recently turned 50, has been hailed as the primary means by which us citizens can know about how their governors operate in a democratic republic. It is intended to promote a culture of openness and accountability amongst public sector bodies, and therefore facilitate better public understanding as to how public authorities carry out their duties, why they make the decisions they do, and how they spend. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the united kingdom on a national level. Latest information on revenue services and tax and customs measures in place during the covid19 pandemic.
Download the failte ireland foi application form pdf, 499kb. We would not expect information that might damage the operations of the council to be revealed. The article identifies six objectives for foi in the united kingdom and then examines to what extent foi has met them, briefly comparing the united kingdom with similar legislation in ireland, new zealand, australia, and canada. It shall be the duty of the deputy keeper of the records of northern ireland to arrange that reasonable facilities are available to the public for inspecting and obtaining copies of those public records in the public record office of northern ireland which fall to be disclosed in accordance with the freedom of information act 2000. Minister of the crown includes a northern ireland minister. The basic function of the freedom of information act is to ensure informed citizens, vital to the functioning of a democratic society. Apr 16, 2020 the freedom of information act, or foia 5 u.
The freedom of information act 2014 gives you a legal right to. Freedom of information act definition document for. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Freedom of information and data protection nidirect. The public authority has to provide the information requested unless it has good reasons not to. When a person makes a request for their own information, this is a data protection subject access request.
The freedom of information foi act 2014 was enacted on 14th october 2014. The freedom of information act 2000, which came into force on 1 january 2005, is essentially about promoting open government. The freedom of information act 1997 foi act as amended by the. Freedom of information amendment and retrenchment in 2003 the most significant event in the history of foi in ireland since the introduction of the legislation in 1997 was the amendment of the act in april 2003. This publication scheme for q2 2016 has been prepared and published in accordance with the requirements of. This excludes information that is properly regarded as private to the meeting. Freedom of info around the world national democratic institute. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in. Extension of time limit for granting or refusing application 7. Extension of time for consideration of foi requests. Freedom of information acts irelands health services hse. Northern ireland nondepartmental public bodies northern ireland nondepartmental public bodies and other public authorities definition document version 3 20140730 3 takes the lead. District councils in northern ireland version 2 23 october 2008 5 decisions are made these should be readily available. Records management and personal data policies this will include information security policies, records retention, destruction.
Northern ireland government departments northern ireland government departments definition document version 4 20140730 7 information presented to those at meetings making executive decisions. Download the freedom of information application form pdf 484 kb and post to. This publication scheme is designed to facilitate the provision of uptodate information relating to the commissions organisational structure, functions, services, decisionmaking, finance, procurement and foi. Request records through the freedom of information act or. This is covered by the freedom of information act 2000. It also applies to the house of commons, the house of lords and to the welsh and northern. Sample foia request letters freedom of information act. Freedom of information act definition document for district. You can also ask for information about yourself under data protection legislation.
Reform and update foi in ireland and in line with other eu ms promote greater transparency and accountability across public bodies open government etc. The foi act 2014 applies to the property registration authority as and from 14th april 2015 section b. Under the foia, individuals have the right to request recorded information held by a public authority. Lists of and information relating to organisations with which the ndpb works in partnership it is expected that this information need be only sufficient for the. The freedom of information office the information commissioner 18 lower leeson street, dublin 2 tel. Freedom of information publication scheme ihrec irish. The passing of the foi amendment act was precipitated by the imminent arrival on the 21st april 2003 of the. Freedom of information act 2014 irish statute book. Freedom of information act 2014 download the free reader. The more precise you make your request, the more efficiently we can return the records you need. Section 8 of the freedom of information act 2014 requires foi bodies to prepare and publish as much information as possible in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis outside of foi, having regard to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability as set out in sections 85 and 1 of the act. After section 5 of the m1public records act northern ireland 1923 deposit of documents in record office by trustees or other persons there is inserted 5a access to public records it shall be the duty of the deputy keeper of the records of northern ireland to arrange that reasonable facilities are available. This right to access is limited when such information is protected from disclosure by one of foias nine statutory exemptions.
Freedom of information national university of ireland. Freedom of information act central bank of nigeria. This link goes to the houses of the oireachtas website. Much of this information can be found on our website under publications available to download in the adobe pdf or word format. Covid19 information and advice for taxpayers and agents. The freedom of information act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities. The freedom of information act 2000 foi gives people the right to request information from public authorities. Introduction the irish human rights and equality commissions publication scheme is prepared under section 8 of the freedom of information foi act 2014.
Version 3 20140730 1 freedom of information act 2000 definition document for northern ireland nondepartmental public bodies and other public authorities this guidance gives examples of the kinds of information that we. The freedom of information act 1997 foi act as amended by the freedom of information amendment act 2003 obliged government departments, the health service executive hse, local authorities and a range of other public bodies to publish information on their activities and to make the information that they held, including personal information, available to citizens. Agency head or appeal officer name of agency address of agency city, state, zip code. The freedom of information act 2000 applies to uk government departments including those operating in scotland and public authorities in england, wales and northern ireland.
As part of the governments phased programme of extension of foi to public bodies, nui, as of 31st may 2006, is now deemed to be a public body subject to requests made under the freedom of information act 2014. Freedom of information act 2000 definition document for northern ireland government departments this guidance gives examples of the kinds of information that we. Declaration that the request is being made under the freedom of information act. What is a publication scheme and why it has been developed 2 2. Its application is limited in scotland which has its own freedom of information legislation to uk government. Northern ireland, and by ukwide public authorities based in scotland. Freedom of information act 2011 laws of the federation of nigeria arrangement of sections 1.
Foi the first decade office of the information commissioner. Freedom of information property registration authority. Amendment of public records act northern ireland 1923. The university publishes logs of all nonpersonal foi requests on a regular basis. This publication scheme has been prepared and published in accordance with the requirements of section 8 of the foi act. Freedom of information act 2000 definition document for. In others such as ireland and the uk, the commissioner has the power to make. This site can help you determine if filing a foia request is the best option for you and help you create your request when youre ready. The freedom of information act foia is a federal law that gives any person, including u. Authorised by the act parliamentary counselalso accessible at.
Freedom of information northern ireland law commission. Purpose of the 2014 act enacted 14 october 2014 but certain sections delayed reform and update foi in ireland and in line with other eu ms promote greater transparency and accountability across public bodies open government etc. It is primarily a means of increasing transparency in official decisionmaking and procedures, and enabling citizens to hold government to account. As part of the governments phased programme of extension of foi to public.
1492 1446 325 1341 1003 89 386 1519 297 655 659 35 917 1298 959 288 1310 692 809 1360 416 161 1023 7 1052 1168 353 264 833 250 1464 1126 571 135 299 1252 784 498