Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Freedom of Information Requests

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

365. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of the successive rulings by the Information Commissioner against the Arts Council with regard to records concerning the awarding of a grant to a close relative of a member of staff; that more than 18 months after the records were sought, the Arts Council has still not released all of the documents requested; of any discrepancies between the original and subsequent schedules provided by the Arts Council; if the behaviour of the Arts Council with regard to the Freedom of Information Act and the Information Commissioner has implications for other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11315/16]

Photo of Paschal DonohoePaschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, compliance and enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act are a matter for the Information Commissioner, who is independent in the performance of his functions.  Sections 22 and 23 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 set out the obligations of bodies subject to FOI legislation to provide the Information Commissioner with the particulars he considers necessary to undertake a review of decisions of such bodies.  Section 45(8) of the Act provides powers to the Information Commissioner where an FOI Body fails to comply with a binding decision of the Commissioner under the Act.  Given this, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter raised.

For the assistance of the Deputy, the full background to these cases and the findings are in the published decisions:

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.