FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1997 (SECTION 17(6)) REGULATIONS 2009

I, BRIAN LENIHAN, Minister for Finance, in exercise of the powers con­ferred on me by sections 3 and 17(6) of the Freedom of Information Act (No. 13 of 1997), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Section 17(6)) Regulations 2009.

2. Freedom of Information Act 1997 (Section 17(6)) Regulations 2003 are hereby revoked.

3. In these Regulations, a reference to a section is a reference to that section of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 (No. 13 of 1997).

4. (1) Notwithstanding section 28(1), an application under section 17 in relation to a record that includes personal information that is incomplete, incor­rect or misleading, may, subject to the other provisions of the Freedom of Infor­mation Act 1997, be made where:

(a) the applicant is a parent or guardian of the individual (“the individual”) to whom the information in the record concerned relates and the individual belongs to one of the following classes of individual:

(ii) individuals who,        on the date aforesaid, have attained full age (within the meaning aforesaid), and have a mental condition, or a mental incapacity, or a severe physical disability, the incidence and nature of which is certified by a registered medical prac­titioner (within the meaning of the Medical Practitioners Act 1978 (No. 4 of 1978)) and who, by reason thereof, are incapable of exercising their rights under the Freedom of Information Act 1997,

and the individual is an individual as respects whom the granting of the application would, in the opinion of the head concerned, having regard to all the circumstances and to any guidelines drawn up and published by the Minister, be in his or her best interests, or

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(b) the individual (“the individual”) to whom the information in the record concerned relates is dead and the applicant belongs to one of the following classes of applicant:

(i)         a personal representative of the individual acting in due course of administration of his or her estate or any person acting with the consent of a personal representative so acting,

(ii)        a person on whom a function is conferred by law in relation to the individual or his or her estate acting in the course of the performance of the function, and

(iii) the spouse   or the next of kin of the individual where in the opinion of the head, having regard to all the circumstances and to any relevant guidelines published by the Minister, the public interest, including the public interest in the confidentiality of per­sonal information, would on balance be better served by granting than by refusing to grant the request.

(a) a party to a marriage that has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State or who is living apart from his or her wife or husband pursuant to a deed of separation, and

(b) a man or woman who was not married to but cohabited as husband or wife, as the case may be, with the deceased individual,

and

“next of kin” is the person or persons standing nearest in blood relationship to the individual in accordance with section 71(2) of the Succession Act, 1965.

BRIAN LENIHAN, Minister for Finance.

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations prescribe certain classes of individuals who may apply under section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 (No. 13 of 1997) for amendment of records containing certain incorrect, incomplete or misleading information having regard to relevant circumstances and to guidelines published by the Minister for Finance.

BAILE ÁTHA CLIATH ARNA FHOILSIUAG OIFIG AN tSOLÁTHAIR

´ Le ceannach dı´reach o´ n OIFIG DHI´OLTA FOILSEACHA ´ N RIALTAIS, TEACH SUN ALLIANCE, SRA ^´ ID THEACH LAIGHEAN, BAILE A ^´ THA CLIATH 2, no´ trı´d an bpost o´ FOILSEACHA´ IN RIALTAIS, AN RANNO ´ G POST-TRA ´ CHTA, AONAD 20 PA ´ IRC MIONDI´OLA COIS LOCHA, CLA ´ R CHLAINNE MHUIRIS, CONTAE MHAIGH EO, (Teil: 01 -6476834 no´ 1890 213434; Fax: 094 -9378964 no´ 01 -6476843) no´ trı´ aon dı´olto´ ir leabhar.

DUBLIN PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased directly from the GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALE OFFICE SUN ALLIANCE HOUSE, MOLESWORTH STREET, DUBLIN 2, or by mail order from GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, POSTAL TRADE SECTION, UNIT 20 LAKESIDE RETAIL PARK, CLAREMORRIS, CO. MAYO, (Tel: 01 -6476834 or 1890 213434; Fax: 094 -9378964 or 01 -6476843) or through any bookseller.

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Wt. (B27085). 285. 9/09. Cahill. Gr. 30-15.