Freedom of Information Act, 2020
Contents
Part I – Preliminary ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
1. Short title .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Interpretation ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
3. Objects of Act ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Part II – Access to information ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4
4. Duty to create, keep, organise and maintain information ........................................................................................................ 4
5. Duty to disclose information ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
6. Act not to apply to certain public entities and persons ............................................................................................................ 4
Part III – Request for access to information ............................................................................................................................................. 4
7. Requests for access to information .................................................................................................................................................... 4
8. Response to request ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
9. Extension of time ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
10. Deemed refusal ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
11. Deferment of access ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
12. Information that cannot be found or does not exist ............................................................................................................... 7
13. Forms of access ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
14. Severability ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
15. Access to health or other records ................................................................................................................................................... 8
16. Language of access ............................................................................................................................................................................... 8
17. Fees ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
18. Reports to Commission ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
19. Entities may grant greater access to information ..................................................................................................................... 9
Part IV – Grounds for refusal of access to information ...................................................................................................................... 10
20. Refusal of access ................................................................................................................................................................................. 10
21. Protection of personal information of a third party who is a natural person ............................................................... 10
22. Protection of commercial information of third party and private entity ........................................................................ 11
23. Protection of certain other confidential information of third party ................................................................................. 11
24. Protection of safety of individuals and property .................................................................................................................... 12
25. Protection of information in bail proceedings, law enforcement and other legal proceedings .............................. 12
26. Protection of legally privileged information ............................................................................................................................. 13
27. Protection of defence, security and international relations of State ................................................................................ 13
28. Protection of economic interests and financial welfare of State and commercial interests of public entities
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
29. Protection of research information of third party or entity ................................................................................................ 16
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