Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
148. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Finance the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department in connection with the liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation; the number that have been received and the number that have been refused, in whole or in part; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19786/13]
View answerA total of 11 requests for information that relate, in whole or in part, to the liquidation of IBRC have been received to date by my Department under the Freedom of Information Act 1997 -2003. Of these requests, responses have issued in 6 cases indicating that the requests are deemed to be voluminous and fall to be rejected under section 10(1)(c) of the FOI Acts. In each of these cases the requester has been assisted or offered assistance to refine or amend the request. The remaining 5 cases are under consideration by my Department.
In normal course my Department examines all requests received for information under the FOI Acts and assess whether specific information can be released. While the overall aim is to release the information requested the FOI Acts do list specific provisions under which records can be deemed to be “exempt records” for the purposes of the Acts. The decisions of the Department/public body, in this regard, are subject to a right of appeal by the requester. The exemptions provided in the legislation include; information provided for meetings of the Government; information received in confidence; commercially sensitive information; deliberations of public bodies; functions and negotiations of public bodies; financial and economic interests of the State; etc. Decisions to release/exempt documentation will also have regard to the particular circumstances and the requirements of the public interest.
As part of this process my Department will communicate with third parties if consideration is being given to releasing information/documentation received from those parties. In the event that third parties object to information being released the Department will take a view on the nature of the information, the basis on which the information was received or acquired and the views of the third party etc. and decide whether the information should be released under the FOI Acts. My Department is committed to the spirit and proper operation of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997-2003.
