Office of the Ombudsman, Ireland
Eolas Teagmhála

Bíonn Oifig an Ombudsman ar oscalit ó 9.15 agus 5.30 ó Luan go Déardaoin agus 9.15 go 5.15 Dé hAoine

18 Sráid Líosain Íochtarach, Baile Átha Cliath 2.

Teil: +353-1-639-5600

Teil: 1890 223030

Faics: (01) 639 5674

R-phost

Lámhleabhar Faisnéise (Alt 15)

RIGHTS OF REVIEW AND APPEAL

The FOI Act provides for a right of review, and subsequently, of appeal, where a request has been refused or only partially granted. There is also a right of review and appeal where access has been deferred, or in relation to the level of fees charged, or in relation to the form in which the request is being met e.g. the requester wishes to have the information on computer diskette and the body decides instead to provide it by way of photocopy. Details of the review/appeal mechanism, in relation to the Office of the Ombudsman, are set out below.

You may seek an internal review of the initial decision, which will be carried out by an official at a higher level, if:

  1. you are dissatisfied with the initial response received i.e. refusal of request, form of access, charges, or
  2. you have not received a reply within four weeks of your initial application (this is deemed to be a refusal of the request and allows you to proceed to internal review).


Requests for internal review should be made, in writing, to:

Brendan O'Neill,
Head of Administration,
Office of the Ombudsman,
18 Lr. Leeson St.
Dublin 2.

Fax: 01-6610570
Tel: 01-6785222
e-mail: ombudsman@ombudsman.irlgov.ie

who will ensure that the review is conducted by an official at a more senior level to that of the first deciding official.

Such a request for internal review must be made within four weeks of the initial decision. The Office must then complete the internal review within three weeks. Internal review must normally have been sought before a further appeal may be made.

In the normal course, decisions given by a public body at the review stage may become the subject of further review by the Information Commissioner. However, FOI decisions of the Ombudsman, where the Ombudsman also holds the Office of Information Commissioner, may not be appealed to the Commissioner. Instead, such decisions may be appealed to the High Court.

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