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Sample questions
From Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC)
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We have prepared sample questions to ask public bodies when we review their decisions.
When answering these questions, public bodies should use our guidance notes on the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that these questions are not legally binding. They are intended to provide guidance.
Note: On 25 September 2020 the Supreme Court delivered its judgments in the cases of The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources v The Information Commissioner and University College Cork v The Information Commissioner. These judgments have implications for the Commissioner’s reviews of decisions by FOI bodies and are being carefully considered by the Commissioner. The guidance provided here is subject to the implications of these judgments and users of this guidance should bear this in mind.
Sample questions - Section 9: Amendment of Records Relating to Personal Information (Alt 9 - Leasú ar Thaifid a bhaineann le Faisnéis Phearsanta)
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Sample questions - Section 10: Right of Person to Information Regarding Acts of FOI Bodies Affecting the Person (Alt 10 - Ceart Duine chun Faisnéise maidir le Gníomhartha Comhlachtaí)
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Sample questions - Section 15(1)(a): Refusal on Administrative Ground to Grant FOI Requests - Record Does not Exist or Cannot be Found (Alt 15(1)(a) - Diúltú ar fhorais riaracháin géilleadh d’iarrataí saorála faisnéise - An taifead nach bhfuil ann nó ní feidir é a aimsiú)
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Sample questions - Section 15(1)(b) to (i): Refusal on Administrative Ground to Grant FOI Requests (Alt 15(1)(b) to (i) - Diúltú ar fhorais riaracháin géilleadh d'iarrataí saorála faisnéise)
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Sample questions - Section 27: Fees and Charges (Alt 27 - Táillí agus Muirir)
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Sample questions - Section 28: Meetings of the Government (Alt 28 - Cruinnithe den Rialtas )
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Sample questions - Section 29: Deliberations of Public Bodies (Alt 29 - Pléití Comhlachtaí Saorála Faisnéise)
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Sample questions - Section 30: Functions and Negotiations of FOI Bodies (Alt 30 - Feidhmeanna agus Caibidlí Comhlachtaí Saorála Faisnéise)
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Sample questions - Section 31: Parliamentary, Court and certain other Matters (Alt 31 - Cúrsaí Parlaiminte agus Cúirte agus Nithe Áirithe Eile)
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Sample questions - Section 32: Law Enforcement and Public Safety (Alt 32 - Forfheidhmiú an Dlí agus Sábháilteacht an Phobail)
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Sample questions - Section 33: Security, Defence and International Relations (Alt 33 - Slándáil, Cosaint agus Caidreamh Idirnáisiúnta)
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Sample questions - Section 35: Information Obtained in Confidence (Alt 35 - Faisnéis a Fhaightear i Modh Rúin)
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Sample questions - Section 36: Commercially Sensitive Information (Alt 36 - Faisnéis atá Íogair ó thaobh na Tráchtála de)
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Sample questions - Section 37: Personal Information (Alt 37 - Faisnéis Phearsanta)
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Sample questions - Section 39: Research and Natural Resources (Alt 39 - Taighde agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha)
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Sample questions - Section 40: Financial and Economic Interests of the State (Alt 40 - Leasanna Airgeadais agus Eacnamaíochta an Stáit)
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Sample questions - Section 41: Enactments relating to Non-Disclosure of Records (Alt 41 - Achtacháin a bhaineann le Neamhnochtadh Taifead)
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Sample questions - Section 42: Restriction of Act (Alt 42 - Srian leis an Acht)
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For more guidance on the Information Commissioner's approach to applying the Freedom of Information Act, see our guidance notes and our decisions.