Freedom of Information (FOI)

What is Freedom of Information (FOI)?

Freedom of Information (FOI) refers to your right to access records held by state organisations. This is set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

FOI means you have the right to ask the Climate Change Advisory Council (or any FOI public body) to provide records held by the Council as defined by the Act. 

Note: You do not have to give a reason why you want to see these records.

If you’re considering making a freedom of information request and would like to find out more before proceeding, please get in touch at info@climatecouncil.ie. The information you are looking for may be available outside of a formal FOI request.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), 2014, Section 8, specific public bodies are committed to openness, transparency, and accountability in how they share information with the public. Information that the Climate Change Advisory Council publishes regularly can be found here: Published information from the Council 

What can I ask for?

Any record held by the Climate Change Advisory Council.

A record can be an electronic document, a printout, a map or audio-visual material.

Do I have to pay?

There is no fee for making a request under the FOI Act. However, you may have to pay some fees for administration and reviews. Find out more about fees here.

How do I make an FOI request?

You can email your request to info@climatecouncil.ie OR

You can also send your request by post to:

FOI Officer
Climate Change Advisory Council
McCumiskey House
Richview
Clonskeagh Road
Dublin 14
D14 YR62 

In your FOI request, you should:

• State that your request is being made under the FOI Act,
• Give as much information as possible about the records you wish to receive,
• Let us know how you prefer to receive the records and your preferred format

 What happens next?

Upon receipt of your request the Climate Change Advisory Council will acknowledge it within 10 working days and we typically respond within 20 working days.  If more time is needed, we will notify you in writing.

If I'm denied access to information, what can I do?

As an FOI body, we may refuse your request in whole or in part, however, we will provide you with a reason why we have refused to grant you access to the record (or part thereof).  If you are denied access to information, you may ask the Climate Change Advisory Council for an internal review by the Secretariat Manager.  We will let you know the result of the review within 15 working days.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the internal review by the Climate Change Advisory Council, you can request a review by the Information Commissioner.

FOI Disclosure Log

The Council's Freedom of information Disclosure Log is regularly updated: 

A log of FOI & AIE requests can be accessed here