Last month, the Young Scientist of the Year contest was won by a kid who found new kind of antibiotic in blackberries. There was some minor controversy afterwards, as it came out the kid had access to some facilities in a third level institution. It seems the use of outside facilities is allowed under the… Continue reading Outside help
Tag: Freedom of Information
Justice “administered in public” and data protection
A few weeks ago, a message appeared on a Facebook journalism court from a reporter, who had just been told he would not be allowed advance notice of district court cases any more because of “data protection” issues. I was curious to learn more, so I sent in a Freedom of Information request to find… Continue reading Justice “administered in public” and data protection
Is there anything to be said for another Mass?
So, some of you might remember I tried to #FOI the lobbying efforts that led to a law banning foreign Mass cards undercutting Irish priests. And the Dept of Justice refused, explaining that there was a box of files, and it would take 40 hours at €20 an hour to look through the box. I… Continue reading Is there anything to be said for another Mass?
‘I am not bound by decisions made by my predecessors’ – RTE FOI
A few years ago, after reading a news story about a “dossier” sent to RTE about its political coverage by a political party, I sent in a freedom of information request, asking for “any submissions from political parties regarding partiality and bias in political reporting and commentary on RTE”. The request was initially refused, on… Continue reading ‘I am not bound by decisions made by my predecessors’ – RTE FOI
The Jobbridge database
The Jobbridge database [Version One] courtesy of a Freedom of Information request. [Since the Excel XLSX file is rather large at over 14Mb, there may be problems in formatting etc. Any suggestions for improving usability gratefully received.] Version Two Jobbridge database in Socrata (from a suggestion by Steve White) Update- Version Three: Jobridge database as… Continue reading The Jobbridge database
Jobbridge and Freedom of Information
Victory of a sort…but mostly not In March 2012, I sent a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Social Protection (DSP), looking for the Jobbridge database. By July of the same year, DSP had replied with some of what I sought, but I had some problems, and so an appeals process began. My… Continue reading Jobbridge and Freedom of Information
RTE, BAI, and the marriage referendum
In response to a letter from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland about coverage of same sex marriage, RTE politely responded that it knew how balance worked. I previously published a copy of the BAI’s letter to RTE, which I obtained from the BAI itself. Below are the letter and the official RTE response, obtained through… Continue reading RTE, BAI, and the marriage referendum
Information wants to be free
Or at least, I want information to be freed. And thanks to the new Freedom of Information Act 2014, signed into law today, it just got a little more free in Ireland. Now there are a lot of caveats. Not all officialdom falls under its terms, there are exceptions for things like commercial sensitivity (which… Continue reading Information wants to be free
Freelance Forum: All you need to know
There are only only six days to go until Freelance Forum Autumn 2014. Have you reserved your place yet? Freelance Forum is a regular one day event designed to keep freelance journalists up to date with the latest developments in their industry. Aimed at writers and photographers, and hoping to cover print, broadcast and online,… Continue reading Freelance Forum: All you need to know
Who’s in Charge: FOI and the civil service
Today I wrote to the three TDs in my constituency to to express my concern at last minute changes to the Freedom of Information Act announced by Brendan Howlin on Friday. These changes, if put into law, will mean Ireland has one of the most restrictive FOI regimes in the world. Most worryingly, although only… Continue reading Who’s in Charge: FOI and the civil service