Written answers

Tuesday, 21 March 2006

Department of Finance

Freedom of Information

8:00 pm

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Finance if it is legitimate to make verbal requests under the Freedom of Information Act 1997; and, if this is the case, the process whereby the fees are paid and the query recorded. [10403/06]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Freedom of Information Act provides that a request for a record must be made in writing or in such other form as may be determined by the Minister for Finance having had appropriate regard to the needs of requesters. The needs of individuals who may be unable to comply with the requirement to make a written Freedom of Information request is recognised in this context.

Guidelines have been prepared under section 6(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides that the Minister for Finance shall, following consultation with whatever other Minister(s) he or she considers appropriate, introduce guidelines on the provision of reasonable assistance to persons with a disability in exercising their rights under the Act, and that public bodies shall have regard to such guidelines. These guidelines recommend acceptance of oral requests from requesters who are unable to read, print and-or write due to their disability. In receiving oral requests, the appropriate officer should make a verbatim record of the request, to be read back to and agreed by the requester. This would make such requests consistent with section 7(1) of the Act, which requires that freedom of information requests are in writing. The usual fee arrangements apply in such cases.

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