Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 3

Written Answers - Freedom of Information.

Richard Bruton

Question:

241 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the instances in the past five years where a record relating to the deliberative process of a public body under her Department was released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 where the public interest was not on balance better served by granting rather than refusing the request; and in each case if this release was made by the head of the public body, or on appeal to the Information Commissioner. [9309/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

There are five public bodies under the aegis of my Department. In the period under which information is requested, records were refused in a total of four cases and in three cases some were released following a decision of the Information Commissioner.

Richard Bruton

Question:

242 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the instances in which records relating to a committee appointed by the Government to advise it on a particular issue have been released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 where the public interest was not on balance better served by granting rather than refusing the request; and in each case if this release was made by the head of the public body, or on appeal to the Information Commissioner. [9324/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1997, any refusals to release records relating to committees appointed by Government, to advise it on a particular issue, would fall within the ambit of section 19 of the Act. According to my Department's records, there have been no decisions to release such material either at internal review or following a decision of the Information Commissioner.

Richard Bruton

Question:

243 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the instances in which records relating to security, defence or international relations have been released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 where the public interest was not on balance better served by granting rather than refusing the request; and in each case if this release was made by the head of the public body, or on appeal to the Information Commissioner. [9354/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 consideration of the release of records relating to security, defence or international relations falls under the ambit of section 24 of the Act. That section does not provide for the application of a public interest test. According to the records of my Department there have been no cases where documents were released following internal review or following a decision of the Information Commissioner.

Richard Bruton

Question:

244 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the instances where the existence of information which was either obtained in confidence or commercially sensitive was released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 where the public interest was not on balance better served by granting rather than refusing the request; and in each case if this release was made by the head of the public body, or on appeal to the Information Commissioner. [9340/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1997, requests for information which was either obtained in confidence, or which is commercially sensitive, comes under the ambits of sections 26 and 27, respectively, of the Act. The majority of FOI requests made to my Department are requests relating to the requesters personal records held by my Department. Decisions on requests relating to personal records are dealt with at the local level.

Up to the end of 2002, a total of 2,711 requests were received, of which 2,376 were for personal records, of which in excess of 90% were fully or partially granted. In the time available it has not been possible to analyse the personal requests to establish if any of them come within the terms of the Deputy's question. However, if the Deputy wishes this further analysis to be undertaken, he should contact my office and I will arrange it and have the results issued to him as soon as possible.

In relation to non-personal requests, there were no section 27 records released following an internal review or a decision of the Information Commissioner. In relation to section 26 cases, records relating to three cases were released on internal review and one case was released following a decision of the Information Commissioner.

Richard Bruton

Question:

245 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the instances where communications between Ministers in relation to a particular matter which has been submitted to the Government for their consideration have been released under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 where the public interest was not on balance better served by granting rather than refusing the request; and in each case if this release was made by the head of the public body, or on appeal to the Information Commissioner. [9369/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1997, consideration of the release of records relating to matters submitted to the Government for its consideration falls under the ambit of section 19 of the Act. According to my Department's records there was one request, which was initially refused but was partially allowed on internal review.