Govt criticised over continuing FoI Act exemptions
Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly has criticised the Government for failing to include a number of state bodies in the Freedom of Information Act.
The criticism is contained in the commissioner's annual report for 2005, which was published today.
Ms O'Reilly has used the report to express disappointment that a number of bodies will not be covered by the extension of the FoI act announced by the Government last year.
She says the gardaí, the Garda Ombudsman, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and Appeals Tribunal, the Central Bank and other financial institutions should be included.
She is also urging the Health Service Executive to begin publishing inspection reports into nursing homes, as recommended in her last report.
Today's report says the number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act increased by 16% to just over 14,500, but the number of appeals was down 12%.
