Access to Information on the Environment
Introduction
The legislation governing Access to Information on the Environment is the The European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (PDF). This gives legal rights to those seeking access to environmental information from public authorities.
These Regulations came into effect on 1 May 2007, repealing the previous legislative instrument, the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 1998. They were amended by the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2011, (S.I. 662 of 2011). Both pieces of legislation are to be read together and to be construed as one and can be referred to as the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2011. An unofficial consolidated version of the Regulations has been prepared by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government for ease of reference. Please note this is not a legal document. http://www.environ.ie/en/Legislation/Environment/Miscellaneous/
FileDownLoad,30002,en.pdf
The Regulations outline the manner in which requests for information may be submitted to public authorities. The Regulations also provide for a formal appeals procedure in the event that a person is unhappy with a decision on their request.
The Access to Information on the Environment Regulations operates in parallel with the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and 2003 (FOI Acts). While the two pieces of legislation are broadly similar with respect to environmental information, the AIE Regulations and the FOI Acts differ in that a wider range of public authorities are covered by the AIE Regulations than by the FOI legislation. There are also material differences in the grounds under which access to information can be refused under the two pieces of legislation.
Useful links provides a source of further information on Access to Information on the Environment.
Queries in relation to Access to Information on the Environment should be addressed to the following:
Information Compliance Office,
Secretary's Office,
West Theatre,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.
Telephone: +353 1 8962154
Facsimile: +353 1 6710037
E-mail: Information.Compliance@tcd.ie
Contact: Information Compliance Office (Email) | Sitemap | Last updated: Oct 22 2012 | Back to top