Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of freedom of information requests made to his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of requests fully denied by reason; the number of requests partially denied; the number of appeals made against denials; the number of such appeals upheld; the number of such appeals rejected; the number of requests that required a fee; the amount received for freedom of information requests in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50598/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is provided in tabular format below. Where freedom of information requests were fully refused, a broad range of exemptions, prescribed in the FOI Act 2014, were applied. The total number of requests refused includes cases where the records requested did not exist. In the interest of transparency and openness, all non-personal FOI requests are made available on my Department's website. In each case the response letter outlining whether they were granted, part granted or refused and the reason why is also published.

Where Search and Retrieval fees are incurred, requesters have the option to reduce the scope of their request to reduce or eliminate such fees. My Department works with requesters who wish to explore this option and since 2016 no search and retrieval fees have been levied by my Department.