Summary: The Commissioner varied the Committee’s decision on the basis that no further materials are held by the Committee on the basis of article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations and affirmed the Committee’s decision.
Date: 07-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-160149-H8D0C4
Public Body: The Forestry Appeals Committee
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(1) Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner found that the Department has not taken adequate steps to identify and locate all relevant environmental information held by it. As such, he was unable to find that article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations can be relied upon by the Department. He annulled the Department’s decision in its entirety and directed it to consider the appellant’s request afresh and make a new internal review decision in accordance with the provisions of the AIE Regulations, and, in particular, the requirement to take adequate steps to identify and locate all environmental information held by it within the scope of the request.
Date: 07-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-146830-L2P0R5
Public Body: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(1) Art.7(5)
Summary: Whether the information requested is environmental information in accordance with the definition thereof in article 3(1) and whether the Central Bank was justified in refusing the information under articles 8(a)(i) and 9(1)(c) of the AIE Regulations
Date: 05-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-125680-G2T6P4
Public Body: Central Bank of Ireland
Article of the Reg.: Art.3(1) Art.8(a)(i) Art.9(1)(c)
Summary: The Commissioner found that IDA Ireland was not justified in withholding information on the basis that article 8(a)(iv) applies ii) IDA Ireland was not justified in withholding information to certain information on the basis that article 9(1)(C) applies
Date: 04-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-113635-G4L4W9
Public Body: IDA Ireland
Article of the Reg.: Art.8(a)(iv) Art.9(1)(c)
Summary: The Commissioner found that the Department was justified in withholding certain information under article 9(1)(b) of the AIE Regulations. He affirmed the decision of the Department accordingly.
Date: 04-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-161482-Q1H4W3
Public Body: Department of Climate, Energy and Environment
Article of the Reg.: Art.9(1)(b)
Summary: The Commissioner annulled the decision of the EPA to refuse the release of the records withheld. As the EPA released the requested information to the appellant during the course of the appeal, he made no further direction.
Date: 04-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-141194-Z0K8W0
Public Body: Environmental Protection Agency
Article of the Reg.: Art.9(2)(a)
Summary: The Commissioner affirmed the OMB’s decision that no further information relevant to the request is held by the OMB. He also noted that he expects the OMB to work with the appellant to ensure that she has an accessible version of the records.
Date: 03-11-2025
Case Number: OCE-156723-H3R7G3
Public Body: Office of the Ombudsman
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner found that the information was not held by or for the Department and article 7(5) of the AIE Regulations applied.
Date: 30-10-2025
Case Number: OCE-150147-N8B4N2
Public Body: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(5)
Summary: The Commissioner found that the EPA was justified in granting the appellant access to environmental information, in a form or manner other than specified in his request.
Date: 30-10-2025
Case Number: OCE-158597-L5H5R3
Public Body: Environmental Protection Agency
Article of the Reg.: Art.7(3)
Summary: The Commissioner found that Coillte was not justified in refusing access to the information and directed it to release it to the appellant.
Date: 30-10-2025
Case Number: OCE-156043-F4Z6M5
Public Body: Coillte
Article of the Reg.: Art.8(a)(i)