Rights of Review and Appeal

The Acts set out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or of third parties. Where the Authority invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be the subject of appeal.

Details of the appeals mechanisms are as follows:

Internal Review

You may seek an internal review of the initial decision if:

• you are dissatisfied with the initial response received i.e. refusal of information, form of access, charges, etc., or
• you have not received a reply within 4 weeks of your initial application. This is deemed to be a refusal of your request and allows you to proceed to internal review.

An official at a higher level will carry out the review.

Requests for internal review should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Office
Metropolitan Building
James Joyce Street
Dublin 1

Telephone: 0818 289 389
Fax: (01) 614 7020
Email: foi@hsa.ie

A request for internal review must be submitted within 4 weeks of the initial decision. The Authority must complete the review within 3 weeks.

The internal review must normally be completed before an appeal may be made to the Information Commissioner.

Review by the Information Commissioner

Following the completion of an internal review, you may seek an independent review of the decision from the Information Commissioner.

Where you have not received a reply to your application for internal review within 3 weeks, this is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Information Commissioner.

Appeals in writing may be made directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner
6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773.
Telephone: +353-1-639 5689