Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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A review of the FOI regime has been undertaken and is at an advanced stage of completion.

The review process has been an open and collaborative one, taking in the views of a wide range of stakeholders. It commenced with a scoping process which sought the views of stakeholders across all sectors in setting the direction of the review. Approximately 1,200 responses were received at this stage of the process from individuals, organisations, and public bodies.

In addition, a customer satisfaction survey was undertaken, which sought the views of both requesters and the staff of public bodies involved in processing requests. 1,100 further responses were received in this project.

Based on key themes identified in the previous stages of information gathering, a full public consultation was undertaken, with 60 further responses received. In order to further tease out particular issues, a series of focus group sessions and interviews were carried out with key stakeholder groups.

This process of engagement was accompanied by a review of international approaches to FOI, seeking to identify best practices and innovations globally.

A progress update was issued to stakeholders at the end of 2022, which summarised key findings in the information gathering process to date, and set out in broad terms the matters under consideration.

There are three main strands. Firstly, a more coherent approach to information governance and access. Secondly, supplementing formal FOI requests with less bureaucratic and more direct ways of achieving transparency, including proactive publication of information. Finally, the review addresses various issues and proposals for improving the FOI request process.

The process of preparing the final review report commenced in mid-2023. This has been undertaken in close collaboration with the Office of the Information Commissioner, but also other policy-holders in related areas, such as the National Archives. The report is now nearing completion, and will be finalised with the intention that it is brought to Government in the first quarter of 2024. It is intended that the recommendations arising from the review will inform the preparation of amending legislation.