Trevor Sargent
Question:206 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the dates on and the means by which her Department sought third party observations in respect of FOI/04/176. [31941/04]
View answerThursday, 2 December 2004
Questions (206, 207)
Written answers
My Department sought informal third party observations in respect of FOI/04/176 by phone on 7 October 2004. A decision on this request issued on 19 October 2004 and the requester was given notice of his or her rights of internal review on any aspect of the decision under the relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts.
Trevor Sargent
Question:207 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she has received all records from other Departments in order that forestry related appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner can be concluded shortly; if the records have not been received, the most recent date on which they were requested; and the response to date. [31942/04]
View answerThere are five outstanding forestry-related appeals with the Office of the Information Commissioner. All of these pre-date the transfer of responsibility for forestry to my Department on 1 January 2004. My Department is awaiting receipt from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources of two sets of records. I understand that the Office of the Information Commissioner has been directly provided by that Department with copies of all records relevant to the appeals. The most recent request for the records was made by my Department on 7 October 2004. The reply on 11 October 2004 indicated that the records were missing but the search would continue.
The Office of the Information Commissioner awaits a submission from my Department on one of the appeals, which I am advised will be made in the very near future. Determination of the appeals to her office is ultimately a matter for the Information Commissioner.