Foi

RTÉ cannot refuse to disclose details of its spending on clothing on the basis that it constitutes an "editorial decision", the FOI watchdog has ruled. The public broadcaster argued that wardrobe purchasing was exempt from freedom of information legislation because it is "programme-related" i

The High Court has dismissed the HSE’s appeal of a decision of the Information Commissioner which determined that the HSE could not withhold registers concerning its employees' interests following a request by RTÉ. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger det

The High Court has proposed a solution to difficulties arising from Order 130 of the Rules of the Superior Courts, which prescribes an appeals procedure in relation to repealed freedom of information legislation. Delivering judgment for the High Court, Ms Justice Niamh Hyland commented that in light

The High Court has refused to remit a matter for fresh consideration to the Information Commissioner on the basis that a dispute as to whether the Commissioner erred was still live. Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Garrett Simons determined that a distinguishing feature of the

Ireland's freedom of information watchdog has rejected arguments from the judiciary that the disclosure of judicial training materials would undermine judicial independence. The Judicial Council told the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) that judges ought to be able to keep their training

A government review of freedom of information legislation originally due for summer 2022 will not now be completed until early 2023. The review, announced in June 2021, is at "an advanced stage" but will not be completed this year, public expenditure and reform minister Michael McGrath said yesterda

The Supreme Court has ruled that the President of Ireland is immune from requests for information and documents pursuant to the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014. It was held that the President’s office did not fall within Article 2(2) of the

A public consultation has been launched as part of the government's review of the Freedom of Information Act. The consultation, which will run until 17 December 2021, asks participants to briefly identify key issues with the FOI system as they see it, in order to assist the Department in defining th

A government review of Ireland's freedom of information legislation will be completed next summer, according to a new roadmap. Public expenditure and reform minister Michael McGrath has set out his plans for the review of the Freedom of Information Act, which was first announced in June.

Ministers are expected to approve a comprehensive review of Ireland's freedom of information legislation to report by the middle of next year. Public expenditure minister Michael McGrath, who spoke about his desire to review the law in June, will put a proposal to his cabinet colleagues today.

Ireland's freedom of information laws are set to be reviewed in a bid to find ways to improve transparency in public administration. Speaking at an event on the future of FOI in Ireland yesterday, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath said work would shortly commence on a review.

On 25 September 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in two separate judgments that where a public body decides not to disclose certain records (on the basis of an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (the “Act”)). The reasons for the decision must be fully explained, and the pub

The Supreme Court, in two separate judgments related to the Freedom of Information Act 2014, has held that public bodies must justify their refusal to disclose confidential or commercially sensitive documents under the Act. The judgment of the court in both cases was delivered by Ms Justice Marie Ba

The Information Commissioner must reconsider its decision requiring UCC to disclose records of a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank to RTÉ, after the High Court found the decision exhibited a number of errors of law. Remitting the matter to the Information Commissioner for recon