PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins signed the new Freedom of Information Act into law yesterday.

The FOI Act 2014 gives people a right of access to records held by many public bodies including Government Departments, the HSE and Local Authorities.

The new law extends the scope of FOI legislation to cover limited areas of An Garda Síochana, the Central Bank and refugee agencies, as well as NAMA, the NTMA and the National Pension Reserve Fund.

It also abolishes the €15 fee required to make an FOI request. However, reduced charges still apply for appeals.

In most cases, public bodies must give their decision on an FOI request within 4 weeks of receiving it.

The Office of the Information Commissioner reviews these decisions.

Voluntary hospitals, major providers of services to people with disabilities, some broadcasters and third level bodies also fall under the Act – as does Irish Water.

A full list of organisations covered by the Act is available here, while information on how to make an FOI request can be found here.

Office of the Information Commissioner Office of the Information Commissioner

Below is a round-up of some of the stories TheJournal.ie has produced based on FOI requests:

• Over 1,800 attempts were made at Leinster House to access pornographic websites over a four-month period in 2013 (not by TDs or Senators, though…)

• There is no written record of the Taoiseach asking for documents related to the bank guarantee.

• Almost €7,000 was spent in the Dáil’s two bars during the late night debate on abortion in July 2013.

• Dublin City Council spent over €600,000 on security for Priory Hall from October 2011-August 2012.

• There were almost 3,500 incidents from May-October 2013 where paramedics had to attend alone, putting their safety at risk.

• It’s also how we found out that Queen Elizabeth gave Enda Kenny a bottle of very fancy whiskey in 2011.

So, are there any questions you’d like us to ask that might be covered under the Act?

The €15 fee for Freedom of Information requests is being abolished

How will the new Freedom of Information charges compare to other countries?