Central Freedom of Information
Central Freedom of Information
Latest:
- FOI Annual Report 2008 (PDF 646 KB)
- Detail of Statistics for Quarter 3 - 2009 (PDF 80.4 KB)
- FOI PG Minutes 3 September 2009 (PDF 71.7KB)
The Central Freedom of Information Team is headed by Dr David Lammey who is supported by two staff. The Team has responsibility for the provision of advice and guidance to all Northern Ireland Departments in relation to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000, Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998 and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) 2004.
Our main functions are:
- Leading, co-ordinating, advising and supporting the NI Departments in their compliance with access to information legislation
- Co-ordinating (in liaison with the Ministry of Justice) the annual exercise to ensure that new public authorities are covered by the FOI Act 2000
- Providing a general enquiry service for NI Departments
- Issuing guidance and encouraging best practice
- Maintaining central FOI/EIRs statistics for the NI Departments for the purpose of briefing the Secretary of State on performance
- Carrying out periodic briefings for the SCS to provide updates on FOI policy developments
- Liaising with the Information Commissioner’s NI Regional Office on issues arising from casework
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 
was implemented fully on 1 January 2005.
was implemented fully on 1 January 2005.Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, anyone, anywhere in the world may request information from a public authority which has functions in England, Wales and/or Northern Ireland (Scotland is covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002). The Act confers two statutory rights on applicants:
- To be told whether or not the public authority holds that information; and if so,
- To have that information communicated to them.
The Act is administered and enforced by the Information Commissioner - an independent authority who is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament.
- an independent authority who is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament.Data Protection Act 1998
The Data Protection Act 1998 gives you the right to access information held about you by organisations. The act governs how organisations can use the personal information that they hold, including how they acquire, store, share or dispose of it.
gives you the right to access information held about you by organisations. The act governs how organisations can use the personal information that they hold, including how they acquire, store, share or dispose of it.The Act is administered and enforced by the Information Commissioner - an independent authority who is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament.
- an independent authority who is appointed by the Queen and reports directly to Parliament.Data protection is an international issue which results from European legislation. Read more about data protection and European legislation
Environmental Information Regulations 2004
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 establish an access regime which allows people to request environmental information from public authorities and those bodies carrying out a public function.
establish an access regime which allows people to request environmental information from public authorities and those bodies carrying out a public function.Any request for environmental information held by or on behalf of a public authority, or a body carrying out a public function, must be dealt with under the Environmental Information regulations 2004. The regulations are the responsibility of the Information Commissioner's Office
