Foi · TheJournal.ie

# foi - Last week 27th November 2022 - 3rd December 2022

'We had to eat leftover meat and fish': Modern slavery in the Irish fishing industry

# Investigation

'We had to eat leftover meat and fish': Modern slavery in the Irish fishing industry

Fri 12:30 AM 23,761 Views 12 Comments

Migrant fishers who left vessels due to exploitative treatment 'ignored' in recent cross-departmental review
Inspection reports reveal potential trafficking and deficiencies relating to hours of work and rest
Researcher: "The problems in Ireland can be traced to very specific policies and laws here"

Navy boardings find 10 fishing vessels almost fully crewed by migrant fishers

# Hands On Deck

Navy boardings find 10 fishing vessels almost fully crewed by migrant fishers

Thu 12:00 PM 22,761 Views 5 Comments

Standard sea fishing boat licence conditions require at least 50% EU crew.

# foi - This year 2022

Tuxedo rental and novelty socks: The €175k cost of the Govt's St Patrick's Day trips this year

# Foreign Affairs

Tuxedo rental and novelty socks: The €175k cost of the Govt's St Patrick's Day trips this year

Sep 21st 2022, 12:05 AM 24,861 Views 37 Comments

Figures released under FOI show how the Government paid to promote Ireland abroad last March.
Members of Cabinet and over 40 civil servants visited 28 countries as part of the annual visits this year.
The total cost was around €85,000 cheaper than the last pre-Covid programme in 2019.

# Dublin Airport

Overflowing toilets and long queues: Passenger complaints about Dublin Airport at start of summer

Jul 14th 2022, 12:05 AM 34,670 Views 30 Comments

Correspondence sent to the Department of Transport shows the frustrations of those who used the airport in late May.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said the Government will not cut passenger numbers at the airport.

# No Access

No Access: Bord na Móna companies blanket blocking release of information

Jul 12th 2022, 7:30 PM 17,022 Views 11 Comments

Key subsidiaries say they fall outside of regulations that enable environmental information requests.

Watchdog expresses concern over the number of FOI requests 'deemed refused'

# Information

Watchdog expresses concern over the number of FOI requests 'deemed refused'

Jun 22nd 2022, 6:00 AM 14,009 Views 9 Comments

More than 35,000 requests for information were received by public bodies in 2021.

'Butchered and mutilated': How the government was alerted to out-of-season hedge-cutting last year

# Wildlife Act

'Butchered and mutilated': How the government was alerted to out-of-season hedge-cutting last year

Mar 23rd 2022, 12:05 AM 48,520 Views 20 Comments

Activities of farmers, commercial tree-fellers and a GAA club were among the complaints submitted to the Government.
Hedge-cutting and burning is banned every year between 1 March and 31 August under the Wildlife Act.
Law aims to protect and maintain wildlife diversity by establishing areas where wildlife can thrive in spring and summer months.

# Limerick

Limerick's dangerous and derelict buildings caused by 'property speculating'

Feb 21st 2022, 12:05 AM 29,923 Views 30 Comments

Documents show how Limerick deals with dangerous and derelict buildings.

Mother & Baby Homes: Just 40 survivors get health files amid row over GPs signing off on requests

# FOI

Mother & Baby Homes: Just 40 survivors get health files amid row over GPs signing off on requests

Jan 9th 2022, 12:05 AM 27,581 Views 15 Comments

Only 40 survivors have received their medical files to date from the Department of Children, Órla Ryan reports
The majority of survivors received the records via Freedom of Information requests, rather than through GDPR
Just 10 people got their records after a GP signed off on the process, The Journal can reveal

Nursing home complaints: 'Window visits not being permitted' and other Covid concerns

# Nursing Homes

Nursing home complaints: 'Window visits not being permitted' and other Covid concerns

Jan 4th 2022, 12:05 AM 31,197 Views 11 Comments

The allegations are contained in documents released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act.
Dozens of complaints were made throughout the year regarding issues surrounding Covid-19.
Other complaints were made over issues such as abuse allegations, building standards and staffing issues.

# foi - Last year 2021

Murder, rape, assault and drug offences: Over 1,000 Irish arrested by Met Police this year

# Irish In Uk

Murder, rape, assault and drug offences: Over 1,000 Irish arrested by Met Police this year

Dec 31st 2021, 6:00 AM 23,484 Views 26 Comments

Three Irish citizens were arrested by the Metropolitan Police over attempted murder.

# Met Éireann

'Inaccurate' app and 'obvious bias' for Dublin: Complaints sent to Met Éireann in 2021

Dec 26th 2021, 12:05 AM 47,523 Views 27 Comments

Met Éireann received a large number of complaints regarding its general weather predictions.
The forecaster's rainfall radar was repeatedly criticised by users throughout 2020. This was the case again this year.
It's app and website also came in for criticism from numerous members of the public.

'In the name of all that is divine': Viewers complain to RTÉ about 'frustrating' Player service

# Complaints

'In the name of all that is divine': Viewers complain to RTÉ about 'frustrating' Player service

Dec 25th 2021, 6:30 PM 65,704 Views 65 Comments

One viewer described the Player as “annoying, frustrating and useless”.

These were the most popular drinks in the Dáil bar this year

# Scoop

These were the most popular drinks in the Dáil bar this year

Dec 25th 2021, 7:00 AM 56,137 Views 39 Comments

Almost €10,000 was spent in the Dáil’s two bars since September.

# Delays

One-third of ambulance delays lasting more than one hour experienced in Wexford, Cork and Kerry

Dec 5th 2021, 3:27 PM 14,153 Views 15 Comments

In two instances in the first half of this year, there was a more than two-hour delay in paramedics arriving after being called.

HSE warned at start of pandemic that it 'may not receive' quantities of PPE it had paid for

# Audit

HSE warned at start of pandemic that it 'may not receive' quantities of PPE it had paid for

Nov 6th 2021, 12:05 AM 26,515 Views 16 Comments

The HSE was given the warning by auditors in June last year.

Average occupancy of Citywest isolation facility was 13.8% during first six months of pandemic

# Covid-19

Average occupancy of Citywest isolation facility was 13.8% during first six months of pandemic

Nov 3rd 2021, 12:05 AM 23,731 Views 16 Comments

The facility opened to ease pressure on the health service in March 2020.

Two international journalism awards for our investigative platform Noteworthy

# Busy Investigating

Two international journalism awards for our investigative platform Noteworthy

Oct 20th 2021, 12:30 PM 4,732 Views 0 Comments

The investigative team completed a number of collaborative projects in the past three months, thanks to your contributions.

# Storm Names

Met Éireann objected to Dave over Diarmuid as part of storm names poll

Oct 3rd 2021, 3:20 PM 43,788 Views 35 Comments

Internal records detail how there was healthy debate over what names to include.

Survivors consider legal action to get health records amid 'bizarre' row with department

# Mother And Baby Homes

Survivors consider legal action to get health records amid 'bizarre' row with department

Sep 16th 2021, 12:05 AM 21,477 Views 0 Comments

Survivors of mother and baby institutions have been told to submit FOI requests, despite already applying under GDPR
A number of women are considering legal action, Órla Ryan reports
Noelle Brown says the latest development is "despicable" and "ridiculous"

# Zapponegate

'A crisis in FOI': How Zapponegate highlighted crucial flaws in Ireland's transparency legislation

Sep 7th 2021, 12:05 AM 16,934 Views 14 Comments

Latest episode in controversy has seen concerns raised by journalists, transparency activists and opposition TDs, Stephen McDermott writes.
Simon Coveney set to appear before Oireachtas committee this morning, following admission last week that he deleted text messages.
Department of Foreign Affairs published 111 records relating to proposed Zappone appointment yesterday on foot of numerous FOI requests.

Zapponegate: Ex-Minister texted Coveney to say thanks for 'incredible opportunity' in March

# Document Drop

Zapponegate: Ex-Minister texted Coveney to say thanks for 'incredible opportunity' in March

Sep 6th 2021, 5:20 PM 44,522 Views 131 Comments

Coveney is due back before an Oireachtas committee tomorrow morning and has promised to answer questions on the documents.
Texts released today add further detail to the timeline surrounding the planned appointment of Zappone to the UN envoy role.
The document dump also includes a text from Zappone in the aftermath of the Merrion-gate controversy.

# Dog Fouling

Dog fouling drops over 50% in Galway after spray paint trial

Aug 19th 2021, 9:59 AM 77,925 Views 26 Comments

Volunteers sprayed dog excrement in pink paint to highlight the issue.

Department 'in breach of EU law' unless it gives health records to Mother and Baby Home survivors

# GDPR

Department 'in breach of EU law' unless it gives health records to Mother and Baby Home survivors

Jul 9th 2021, 12:05 AM 13,822 Views 25 Comments

A data expert says the Minister for Children's approach breaches GDPR, Órla Ryan writes
Survivors have said a GP should not be involved in the process - at odds with the Department
Minister Roderic O'Gorman is in discussions with Cabinet colleagues about new regulations

'The sooner it's boarded up the better': Official wanted door to be blocked to stop homeless person 'moving in'

# Rathmines

'The sooner it's boarded up the better': Official wanted door to be blocked to stop homeless person 'moving in'

Jul 7th 2021, 12:05 AM 76,583 Views 75 Comments

An official wrote the email before the doorway at the Rathmines college was covered with wooden hoardings in late May, Cónal Thomas reports.
The boarding up of the location prompted an outcry on social media because the location had been frequented by a man who slept rough.
Official statements at the time suggested that the doorway was boarded up to facilitate Leaving Certificate exams in June.