Freedom of Information

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• Rights of Review and Appeal

  The Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or third parties. Where the PSI uses these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be the subject of appeal.

• Internal Review

  You may seek an internal review within the PSI if:
  

  • you are dissatisfied with the initial response;
  • you have not received a reply within four weeks of your initial application. This is deemed to be a refusal of your request and allows you to proceed to internal review.

  Requests for internal review must be submitted within four weeks of the initial decision. The PSI must complete the review within three weeks and you will be notified in writing of the outcome. Internal reviews must normally be completed before an appeal is made to the Information Commissioner.

  Requests for internal review should be submitted in writing to:

  FOI Internal Review Decision Maker
  PSI -The Pharmacy Regulator
  PSI House
  15-19 Fenian Street
  Dublin 2, D02 TD72
  An internal review can also be submitted by email.
  Telephone: +353 (0)1 218 4000

• Review by the Information Commissioner

  If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the internal review, you can apply to the Information Commissioner for a review:
  Office of the Information Commissioner
  6 Earlsfort Terrace
  Dublin 2
  D02 W773
  Tel:+353 (0)1 639 5689
  Locall:1890 223 030
  

  Fax:+353 (0)1 639 5674
  

  Email: info@oic.ie
  

  www.oic.ie

• Fees for Information Requests and Reviews

  Type of request or application	Fee	Reduced Fee*
  Information Request	Free	Free
  Internal Review	€30	€10
  Review by the Information Commissioner	€50	€15

  No fees apply where the request involves access to your personal records.
  *For reduced fee, proof of medical card may be necessary.
  

  Search, Retrieval and Copying Costs

  Charges may be applied for the time spent finding and retrieving records, and for any copying costs incurred in providing you with the material requested. It is very unlikely that any charges will be applied in respect of personal records, except where a large number of records are involved.

  If the cost of search, retrieval and copying is €100 or less, no charge is applied. If the charge exceeds €100, full fees apply. You cannot be charged more than €500. You may need to pay a deposit.

  If the estimated cost of search, retrieval and copying is estimated at more than €700 the Act stipulates that a request may be refused, unless you refine your request to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below this limit.

  Type of Charge	Charge
  Search and Retrieval of Records	€20 per hour
  Photocopying	4 cent per sheet
  CD-ROM containing copy of documents	€10