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Friday 22 September 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# Freedom of Information

Last month
August 2023
Twelve patients reported to have been sexually assaulted in mental health facilities last year
A report by
Stephen McDermott
The assaults are among more than 500 ‘serious’ adverse incidents in 2022.
The assaults are among more than 550 'serious' adverse incidents reported to the HSE in 2022.
Small number of assaults causing death or injury also reported in hospitals and social care settings
250 patients died or were seriously injured as a result of a fall in all healthcare settings last year.
This year
2023
Officials warned that lack of social workers would delay giving adopted people their records
New documents reveal that officials in the AAI and Tusla had raised concerns about difficulties recruiting staff in the months leading up to the Birth Information and Tracing Act coming into effect.
New documents reveal that officials in the AAI and Tusla had raised concerns about difficulties recruiting social workers, Órla Ryan reports
In December, adopted people were informed that they may not receive their records until autumn 2023
In the months leading up to the Birth Information and Tracing Act being enacted, efforts were made to hire more staff
Adopted people 'disgusted' and 'distraught' they might not get their records until autumn 2023
Leaving Cert students ask Foley to keep 'no cliff edge' vow - and avoid clash with Harry Styles gig
Norma Foley has a challenge ahead to keep everyone happy as she aims to reform the Leaving Certificate.
Last year
2022
'Why do I pay my TV licence?': Viewers complain about 'awful' RTÉ Player
The State broadcaster said it has been “improving the reliability and resilience” of the service.
No Access: Bord na Móna companies blanket blocking release of information
Key subsidiaries say they fall outside of regulations that enable environmental information requests.
Watchdog expresses concern over the number of FOI requests 'deemed refused'
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
Hedge-cutting and burning is banned every year between 1 March and 31 August.
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.
Nursing home complaints: 'Window visits not being permitted' and other Covid concerns
The allegations are contained in documents released to The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act.
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.
30 cases taken against the State over Covid-19 deaths in care settings
Hiqa report reveals some main factors behind Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes
All time
HSE warned at start of pandemic that it 'may not receive' quantities of PPE it had paid for
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
The facility opened to ease pressure on the health service in March 2020.
Two international journalism awards for our investigative platform Noteworthy
The investigative team completed a number of collaborative projects in the past three months, thanks to your contributions.
'A crisis in FOI': How Zapponegate highlighted crucial flaws in Ireland's transparency legislation
The latest controversy has raised concerns among journalists and transparency activists.
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
Explainer: Why are people still talking about the Zappone/Coveney/Varadkar controversy?
Sinn Féin calls for all documents related to Zappone appointment to be published
TD Matt Carthy said the Department of Foreign Affairs should also clarify if any other relevant documents have been erased.
Coveney asks to appear before Oireachtas Committee to clarify text controversy
The fallout from the Zappone controversy continues.
Noteworthy investigations reveal biggest climate emitters and violent bike theft increase
The investigative platform completed four new projects in the past three months, thanks to your contributions.
Freedom of Information Act to be reviewed by government
The Act will be reviewed for the first time since being updated in 2014.
Noteworthy investigations expose environmental issues and analyse far-right activity
The investigative platform completed five projects so far this year, thanks to your contributions.
'Imagine someone clicked their fingers and you had no family or history, that's the reality for thousands of us'
Adopted people have called for long-awaited tracing and information legislation to be published as a matter of urgency.
Debunked: No, an FOI request did not show that RTÉ 'took orders' from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
A post on Facebook suggests that the broadcaster received money from a number of international groups.
'I put an 11-week-old fetus into a little coffin': Student nurses to the Taoiseach in their own words
A number of nurses contacted Micheál Martin following a Dáil debate over pay in December
'I had to tell them their baby was dead': Student nurses to Stephen Donnelly in their own words
A number of nurses contacted the Health Minister following a Dáil debate over pay in December.
Nursing home complaints during Covid: Concerns over isolation and lack of social distancing
The allegations are contained in documents released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act.
Debunked: No, a Freedom of Information request to the HSE did not prove that Covid-19 does not exist
The claim originated in a series of posts by Anti-Corruption Ireland last week.
More than 500,000 people had points on their licences this year - here's a county-by-county breakdown
A total of 510,269 people had points on their licences on 30 September 2020.
TDs and Senators rack up over €2,000 in arrears at Dáil bar and restaurant
Figures obtained by TheJournal.ie show how much was owed by Dáil staff last month.
RTÉ says it's striving to improve Player amid complaints about 'frustrating' and 'ridiculous' service
“To say this is frustrating would be a gross understatement,” one viewer wrote.
'Ciara caused a lot of hassle': Irish pronunciation leaves Dutch tongue-tied in naming of 2020-21 storms
Irish, UK and Dutch meteorologists recently collaborated on the winter storm names.
'A ruling of significant importance': Supreme Court orders re-opening of landmark FOI appeals
The country’s highest court made the order in two rulings today.
Government urged to drop novels with 'racial slurs' from Junior Cert syllabus in response to Black Lives Matter protests
Parents, pupils and teachers have called for an update the school curriculum.
'I urge you to use common sense': Praise and criticism in public's emails to Leo during start of lockdown
Correspondence sent to Varadkar shows how the public reacted to the crisis in its initial weeks.
Tusla suffers 23 'high risk' data breaches - including stolen files and loss of devices - since last year
The vast majority of the cases involved an “employee error or omission”.
CityJet and Stobart Air asked government for six-month bailout to ensure their survival after Covid-19
The airlines accounted for over 13% of air traffic at Ireland’s airports before the pandemic.
HSE was 'gifted' €544,000 in free advertising by Google and Facebook during Covid-19 pandemic
New figures show the health service spent more than €1 million on advertising in the first two months of the crisis.
Information Commissioner calls for incoming government to 'improve' Freedom of Information Act
Peter Tyndall was commenting as he published his officer’s annual report for 2019.
Hiqa sent more than 170 complaints relating to Covid-19 in nursing homes during March and April
Many complainants raised concerns about social distancing and infection control measures in homes as the virus spread.
Masturbation, sex toys and multiple partners: Emails show how the HSE drafted its Covid-19 sex guidelines
The guidelines were drafted late in March after a radio interview by the HSE’s Chief Clinical Officer.
Irish Water staff threatened with machete and pelted with rocks
An incident log shows that 21 instances of assault or abuse were reported by staff since 2017.
Copper Face Jacks, Tayto and Bohemians FC sent warning letters by Dublin City Council over murals
The council sent 35 letters under the Planning and Development Act in recent years.
It cost almost €70,000 to police the three winter tractor protests
Over half of that was spent on barriers to block tractors from gaining access to Kildare Street, where Leinster House is located.
'Absolute disgrace': RTÉ Gold listeners wrote to Dee Forbes expressing 'devastation' over station closure
That’s according to records released by RTÉ’s Freedom of Information unit.