Freedom of Information

Rights of Review and Appeal

The Freedom of Information Act sets out appeal mechanisms in the event of a refusal of a request, or in relation to deferral of access, charges, form of access etc. Details of these appeal mechanisms are as follows:

Internal Review

You may seek Internal Review of the initial decision, which will be carried out by an Official at a higher level than the original decision-maker if:

• You are dissatisfied with the initial response received i.e. refusal of information, form of access, charges etc.

• You have not received a reply within four weeks of your initial application. This is deemed to be a refusal of your request and allows you to proceed to Internal Review.

Requests for Internal Review must be submitted within four weeks of the initial decision by writing to:

Mr. Kieran Moylan,
Freedom of Information (Internal Review) Officer,
The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly,
The Square,
Ballaghaderreen,
Co. Roscommon.
Phone: (094) 9862970
Fax: (094) 9862973
Email: kmoylan@bmwassembly.ie

The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly will complete the review within three weeks. An internal review will usually be undertaken before an appeal may be made to the Information Commissioner.

Review by the Information Commissioner

A person may seek an independent review by the Information Commissioner if:

• Following completion of the Internal Review procedure, you are dissatisfied with the decision.

• You have not received a reply to your request for Internal Review within 3 weeks of your application. This is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Commissioner.

Appeals in writing may be made directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.
Phone: (01) 6785222
Fax: (01) 6610570
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.irlgov.ie

Policy on The Freedom Of Information Act 1997

The Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly warmly welcomes the provisions of the Freedom Of Information Act and is committed to the implementation of that Act in relation to its office. The structures are in place to provide the information which may be requested from the Assembly and to which the Act applies. To the extent allowed by the Act, every effort will be made to provide information requested under the Act and every assistance will be offered to any applicant for such information.

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