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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Dec 2000

Vol. 528 No. 1

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Requests.

Question:

99 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department; the number of requests rejected; if he will review the treatment of freedom of information requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29458/00]

Brian Cowen

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

In the period between the coming into effect of the Freedom of Information Act – on 21 April 1998 – and 30 November 2000, inclusive, a total of 370 FOI requests have been received by my Department. A breakdown of the outcome of these requests is as follows:

Requests granted in full

134

Requests part granted

77

Requests refused

85

Requests transferred to other public bodies

7

Requests withdrawn or dealt with outside of FOI

55

Requests where decisions are still pending

12
The reason some requests were either refused or only part granted was due to the fact that the records requested did not exist in the Department.
While I am satisfied with the manner in which FOI requests are currently dealt with, my Department is anxious, in the context of the ongoing Civil Service reform programme, to make as much information as possible readily available and accessible to all our customers.
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