Freedom of Information Act 2014 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2014 Freedom of Information Act 2014 Freedom of Information Act 2014 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDF Oscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Previous SectionAlt Roimhe Next SectionAn Chéad Alt Eile Print SectionPriontáil an tAlt Number 30 of 2014 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2014 CONTENTS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Citation and commencement 2. Interpretation 3. Regulations and orders 4. Expenses 5. Repeals PART 2 FOI Bodies 6. Public bodies 7. Prescribed bodies PART 3 Rights in Relation to Records Chapter 1 General rights in relation to records and decisions 8. Publication of information about FOI bodies 9. Amendment of records relating to personal information 10. Right of person to information regarding acts of FOI bodies affecting the person Chapter 2 FOI Requests 11. Access to records 12. Requests for access to records 13. Decisions on FOI requests and notification of decisions 14. Extension of time for consideration of FOI requests 15. Refusal on administrative grounds to grant FOI requests 16. Deferral of access to records 17. Manner of access to records 18. Access to parts of records 19. Decisions deemed to have been made in certain cases 20. Delegation of certain functions of heads Chapter 3 Internal Review 21. Review by heads of decisions under Chapters 1 and 2 Chapter 4 Review by Information Commissioner 22. Review by Commissioner of decisions 23. Requests for further information by Commissioner Chapter 5 Appeal to High Court 24. Appeal to High Court, etc. Chapter 6 Miscellaneous 25. Precautions by High Court and Commissioner against disclosure of certain information 26. Stay on certain decisions 27. Fees and charges PART 4 Exempt Records 28. Meetings of the Government 29. Deliberations of FOI bodies 30. Functions and negotiations of FOI bodies 31. Parliamentary, court and certain other matters 32. Law enforcement and public safety 33. Security, defence and international relations 34. Conclusiveness of certain decisions pursuant to sections 32 and 33 35. Information obtained in confidence 36. Commercially sensitive information 37. Personal information 38. Procedure in relation to certain FOI requests to which section 35, 36 or 37 applies 39. Research and natural resources 40. Financial and economic interests of the State 41. Enactments relating to non-disclosure of records PART 5 Restriction of Act 42. Restriction of Act PART 6 The Information Commissioner 43. Continuance of office of Information Commissioner 44. Review of operation of Act and investigations by Commissioner 45. Powers of Commissioner 46. Publication of commentaries by Commissioner on practical application, etc., of Act 47. Reports of Commissioner PART 7 Miscellaneous 48. Code of practice and guidelines 49. Immunity from legal proceedings 50. Amendment of Central Bank Act 1942 51. Amendment of Official Secrets Act 1963 52. Offence and penalty 53. Proceedings for offences 54. Saver 55. Transitional provisions SCHEDULE 1 PART 1 Partially Included Agencies PART 2 Exempt Agencies SCHEDULE 2 The Information Commissioner SCHEDULE 3 Enactments Excluded from Application of Section 41 PART 1 Statutes PART 2 Statutory Instruments SCHEDULE 4 Repeals PART 1 Statutes PART 2 Statutory Instruments SCHEDULE 5 Statutory Instruments Continuing in Force Acts Referred to Adoption Act 2010 (No. 21) Agriculture (Research, Training and Advice) Act 1988 (No. 18) Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 (No. 24) Air Pollution Act 1987 (No. 6) An Bord Bia Act 1994 (No. 22) Arts Act 2003 (No. 24) Aviation Regulation Act 2001 (No. 1) Central Bank Act 1942 (No. 22) Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) Act 2011 (No. 27) Children Act 2001 (No. 24) Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011 (No. 23) Civil Registration Act 2004 (No. 3) Civil Service Regulation Act 1956 (No. 46) Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005 Comhairle Act 2000 (No. 1) Commission To Inquire Into Child Abuse Act 2000 (No. 7) Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 (No. 23) Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 (No. 3) Communications Regulation Act 2002 (No. 20) Companies Acts Comptroller and Auditor General Acts 1923 to 1993 Consumer Protection Act 2007 (No. 19) Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 (No. 28) Coroners Act 1962 (No. 9) Credit Reporting Act 2013 (No. 45) Criminal Justice (Location of Victims’ Remains) Act 1999 (No. 9) Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act 2009 (No. 19) Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 (No. 2) Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 (No. 11) Data Protection Act 1988 (No. 25) Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 Defence Act 1954 (No. 18) Dentists Act 1985 (No. 9) Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 (No. 23) Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (No. 15) Education Act 1998 (No. 51) Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (No. 23) Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011 Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 (No. 7) Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2012 European Parliament Elections Act 1997 (No. 2) Exchequer and Audit Department Acts 1866 and 1921 Family Support Agency Act 2001 (No. 54) Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998 (No. 29) Forestry Act 1988 (No. 26) Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 9) Freedom of Information Act 1997 (No. 13) Garda Síochána Act 2005 (No. 20) Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002 (No. 10) Gas Act 1976 (No. 30) Harbours Act 1996 (No. 11) Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 (No. 17) Health Act 1947 (No. 28) Health Act 2004 (No. 42) Health Act 2007 (No. 23) Health Insurance Act 1994 (No. 16) Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 (No. 33) Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 (No. 9) Independent Monitoring Commission Act 2003 (No. 40) Industrial Development Act 1986 (No. 9) Industrial Development Act 1993 (No. 19) Industrial Relations Act 1946 (No. 26) Industrial Relations Act 1969 (No. 14) Industrial Relations Act 1990 (No. 19) Industrial Relations Acts 1946 to 2012 Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (No. 10) Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 (No. 10) Interpretation Act 2005 (No. 23) Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 (No. 29) Irish Film Board Act 1980 (No. 36) Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994 (No. 18) Irish Medicines Board Act 1995 (No. 29) Labour Services Act 1987 (No. 15) Legal Services Ombudsman Act 2009 (No. 8) Local Authorities (Officers and Employees) Act 1926 (No. 39) Local Government Act 2001 (No. 37) Marine Institute Act 1991 (No. 2) Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (No. 25) Milk (Regulation of Supply) Act 1994 (No. 25) Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924 (No. 16) National Archives Act 1986 (No. 11) National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 (No. 21) National Lottery Act 1986 (No. 28) National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 (No. 7) National Sports Campus Development Authority Act 2006 (No. 19) National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 (No. 10) National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000 (No. 39) National Treasury Management Agency Act 1990 (No. 18) Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (No. 41) Offences Against the State Act 1939 (No. 13) Offences against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 Official Secrets Act 1963 (No. 1) Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 (No. 36) Ombudsman Act 1980 (No. 26) Ombudsman Acts 1980 to 2012 Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 (No. 22) Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001 (No. 43) Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (No. 20) Pensions (Amendment) Act 2002 ) (No. 18) Pensions Act 1990 (No. 25) Pensions Acts 1990 to 2012 Personal Insolvency Act 2012 (No. 44) Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 (4 & 5 Vict., c. 93) Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 (No. 24) Prisons Acts 1826 to 2007 Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (No. 33) Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 (No. 28) Radiological Protection Act 1991 (No. 9) Railway Safety Act 2005 (No. 31) Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 (No. 13) Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (No. 14) Road Traffic Acts 1961 to 2014 Roads Act 1993 (No. 14) Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10) Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8) Social Welfare Acts State Authorities (Public Private Partnership Arrangements) Act 2002 (No. 1) Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (No. 39) Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (No. 55) Transport (Re-organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act 1986 (No. 31) Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 (11 & 12 Geo. 5, c. 7) Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 (No. 5) Veterinary Practice Act 2005 (No. 22) Voluntary Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 1996 (No. 4) Western Development Commission Act 1998 (No. 42) Number 30 of 2014 Freedom of Information Act 2014 An Act to enable members of the public to obtain access, to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy, to information in the possession of public bodies, other bodies in receipt of funding from the State and certain other bodies and to enable persons to have personal information relating to them in the possession of such bodies corrected and, accordingly, to provide for a right of access to records held by such bodies, for necessary exceptions to that right and for assistance to persons to enable them to exercise it, to provide for the independent review both of decisions of such bodies relating to that right and of the operation of this Act generally (including the proceedings of such bodies pursuant to this Act) and, for those purposes, to provide for the continuance of the office of Information Commissioner and to define its functions, to provide for the publication by such bodies of certain information about them relevant to the purposes of this Act, to repeal the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003 , to amend the Central Bank Act 1942 , to amend the Official Secrets Act 1963 , to repeal certain other enactments, and to provide for related matters. [14 th October, 2014] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Cookie List Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán &copy…