Ireland and the Freedom of Information ACT

Maura Adshead is Senior Lecturer in Politics and Public Administration in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at University of LimerickTom Felle is Acting Director, News Journalism in the Department of Journalism at City University London

The introduction of FOI in Ireland was a watershed moment in Irish democracy. It gave citizens a right to know, and abolished eighty years of official secrecy that had existed since the foundation of the State. As the new 2014 FOI Act is extended to the gardaí and the Central Bank for the first time, this book critically examines the important contribution the legislation has made to the opening up of Irish democracy and society.The book traces Ireland's experience of FOI legislation, from the first FOI Act in 1997, to the amendments that significantly constrained its provisions in 2003, to the new legislation that came into force in 2015. It examines FOI from a series of perspectives, including from a state perspective, looking at the balance between keeping the State's secrets and keeping the government accountable; from a media perspective; and from a citizen's perspective, using FOI to develop active citizenship and engagement. Finally, the book assesses the extent to which FOI contributes to political reform.This volume will be an essential primary reference point for information about FOI in Ireland. As such, it will be of interest to anyone with an interest in understanding how Irish democracy works and what tools are available to examine it. It will be a core text for higher level students of politics, law, journalism and media studies; and will be an important reference for policy makers as well as civil and public servants.Contributors include Ombudsman and Information Commissioner Peter Tyndall, former minister Eithne FitzGerald and RTE journalist Richard Dowling.

Introduction - Maura Adshead and Tom Felle1. International trends in freedom of information - Nat O'Connor2. Two steps forward and one step back: political culture and FOI - Maura Adshead3. Freedom of information and national security: where's the harm in that? - Jennifer Kavanagh4. Freedom of information and policing: still a very secret service - Richard Dowling5. FOI and public trust in parliament - Mark Mulqueen6. Freedom of information and the media - a case of delay, deny, defeat? - Conor Ryan7. A glass half full or half empty? Citizens' experiences with FOI - Tom Felle and Gavin Sheridan8. Reflections on freedom of information: past, present and future - Eithne FitzGerald, John Carroll and Peter TyndallConclusion - Maura Adshead, Tom Felle and Nat O'ConnorIndex