GREATER transparency around the workings of the highly secretive NAMA is expected after the Information Commissioner ruled that it is subject to freedom of information requests.

A debate on whether there should be full disclosure of documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people died will be heard by British MPs next month.

THE most derided pillar in Irish public administration, the quango, has come to symbolise what is wrong with our bureaucracy.

The Information Commissioner has recommended that An Garda Siochána, the Central Bank and Nama, among other public bodies, be covered by the Freedom of Information Act.

Google has agreed to delete all the personal data its 'Street View' cars collected from unsecured wi-fi networks.

THE Data Protection Commissioner has demanded an “urgent report” from the HSE into how hundreds of confidential hospital patient files could end up in a disused dump outside Cork city.

FREEDOM of Information requests to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s office have dropped by half since fees were introduced for queries.

Almost 15,000 requests were made to elicit materials from public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act last year, it was confirmed today.

COILLTE, the State-owned forestry company, has been criticised by the Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly over its conduct in dealing with her office about an FoI request.

Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly has criticised the Government for failing to include a number of state bodies in the Freedom of Information Act.

More public bodies, including the Garda Siochana, must be included under the Freedom of Information Act, it was claimed today.

A deadly strain of bird flu may have emerged in eight of Nigeria’s 36 states, authorities said yesterday, amid concerns the virus had been spreading long before officials knew it was in Africa.

Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly has published a report criticising the Government's failure to extend the remit of the Freedom of Information Act to cover all public bodies.

IT would appear the Freedom of Information Act (FoI Act) is used by the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition to maintain a cloak of secrecy around sensitive areas, rather than act as an instrument of transparency for the public.

THE long-awaited report into why Dr Michael Neary unnecessarily removed the wombs of approximately 60 women without their consent or knowledge has still not been presented to Health Minister Mary Harney nine months after the supposed deadline.

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has reportedly criticised the Department of Education for trying to suppress documents about the planned closure of a teacher training college in Dublin.

IRELAND’S information watchdog has called for a reduction in fees for Freedom of Information requests after she revealed applications were down by 50% since their imposition.

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has urged the Government to rethink its decision to introduce charges for requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.

PARENTS have welcomed a court decision allowing public access to school inspectors’ reports despite fears among teachers of unfair comparisons being drawn from them.

THE scale of new charges for Freedom of Information (FoI) appeals could act as a disincentive to those considering an appeal, Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly warned yesterday.

Information Commissioner Kevin Murphy has urged the Government to make An Garda Siochana subject to the Freedom of Information Act as a matter or urgency.

The Information Commissioner Kevin Murphy says it's difficult to know whether the introduction of charges for utilising the Freedom of Information Act will discourage the public from using it.