Summary: The Commissioner found that the Department was not justified in refusing access to the requested information under article 7(5) of the AIE regulations as reasonable steps had not been taken to identify all information relevant to the request. The Commissioner annulled the decision of the Department and directed it to provide the appellant with a new internal review decision.
Date: 05-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-144220-X0T8G5
Public Body: The Department of Defence
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner affirmed Coillte’s decision with respect to parts 2-5 and 6(ii) of the request and found that it had taken sufficient steps to identify the information under article 7(5) of the Regulations. The Commissioner annulled and remitted parts 1, 6(i), 7,8,9 and 10 of the request and directed that Coillte carry out a new internal review in relation to these aspects. He found that Coillte was not justified in redacting information in records released to the appellant on the basis of article 3(1) and 8(a)(i) and directed release of this information.
Date: 04-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-153564-T1W4N3
Public Body: Coillte
Article of the Reg.: Art.3(1) Art.7(5) Art.8(a)(i)
Summary: The Commissioner directed Coillte to provide an internal review decision in respect of each request in line with article 11 of the AIE Regulations.
Date: 04-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-161648-Y2G8P8 & OCE-161656-Q7T7Z1
Public Body: Coillte
Article of the Reg.: Art.11
Summary: The Commissioner annulled the FAC decision under Article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations and remitted the matter to the FAC to provide the appellant with a new internal review decision.
Date: 04-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-161982-L1Y9J3
Public Body: Forestry Appeals Committee
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(1) Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner affirmed the Department’s decision under article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations on the basis that it had taken reasonable and adequate searches, such as to identify and locate all relevant environmental information held by it in respect of the appellant’s request
Date: 03-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-156939-N6F8N2
Public Body: Department of Environment, Climate and Communications
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner affirmed the Department’s decision under article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations on the basis that it had taken reasonable and adequate searches, such as to identify and locate all relevant environmental information held by it in respect of the appellant’s request
Date: 03-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-156939-N6F8N2
Public Body: Department of Environment, Climate and Communications [the Department]
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner found that the FAC had taken sufficient steps to identify and locate all relevant environmental information relevant to the appellant’s request. The Commissioner affirmed the decision of the FAC.
Date: 03-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-155161-X5W7R5
Public Body: Forestry Appeals Committee
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner found that Irish Rail had not demonstrated reasonable steps had been taken to identify all information relevant to each request. The Commissioner annulled the decision of Irish Rail and directed it to provide the appellant with a new internal review decision for each request.
Date: 03-12-2025
Case Number: OCE-157489-H8C5R7 and OCE-157494-G7H0D7
Public Body: Irish Rail
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner annulled the Department’s decision in each appeal and directed the Department to issue a new internal review decision to the appellant in each case.
Date: 28-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-144065-N2S2Y7, OCE-147136-K6L5P8, OCE-160445-Y3Y5T7, OCE-147185-J9Y2R4, OCE-148233-F7H6F0
Public Body: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Article of the Reg.: Art.3(1) Art.7(5) Art.9(1)(d)
Summary: The Commissioner found the information requested is environmental information and annulled the Departments internal review decisions, directing the Department to release the relevant records.
Date: 28-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-146535-R1L0T3 and OCE-146542-C4Y6G9
Public Body: Department of Defence
Article of the Reg.: Art.3(1) Art.9(2)(b)