Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
243. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51970/23]
View answerIn 2022, my Department received a total of 313 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests of which 37 were refused. To date in 2023 the Department has received 258 FOI requests of which 31 have been refused.
My Department is committed to being transparent and providing ease of access to information and records where possible. Where practicable, my officials will endeavour to redact a version of a record as opposed to refusing a request in its entirety.
When a request has to be refused however, it may be due to a number of different reasons. For example, it may be necessary to safeguard sensitive information, including but not limited to personal information, information obtained in confidence as well as commercially sensitive information.
