Freedom of information policy

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) seeks to be open and accountable and believes that public access to our information improves understanding of our role.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the FOI Act) gives everyone a general right of access to information held by public authorities in the UK, subject to certain exemptions. It also places a statutory duty on bodies covered by the Act to make certain information publically available as a matter of course. NIHRC, as with all public authorities, has adopted a Publication Scheme which has been approved by the Information Commissioner and which is available on our website.

https://www.nihrc.org/publications

If the information you require is not listed in our Publication Scheme, you may make a request in writing to us for the information.

Responsibility for Freedom of Information requests rests with the NIHRC Data Protection Officer. They can be contacted by writing to the following address:

Data Protection Officer

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

4th Floor, Alfred House,

19-21 Alfred Street,

Belfast,

BT2 8ED

Telephone : 02890 243987

Email : info@nihrc.org

Where a request is received it will be dealt with promptly and usually within 20 working days. If additional time is required, this will be advised to you in writing.

We will disclose information wherever possible. However, in a few circumstances, it will be necessary to withhold some or all of the information requested under one of the exemptions outlined in the Act. In any case where information is refused, NIHRC will specify which exemption has been used and why. All requests for information will be carefully considered on their own merits and with close regard to the public interest.

The FOI Act makes provision for appeal against the response given to a request for information, or to challenge the way in which a request was handled.

In the first instance you should contact the Chief Executive Officer in writing.

Your complaint will be handled by a suitably authorised senior member of NIHRC who is unconnected with the initial request. Your complaint will be acknowledged in writing within five working days of receiving it and the letter will say when you can expect a full response. This should normally be within three weeks unless the matter is very complicated (for example, where other organisations need to be contacted). Where this is the case, we will let you know what action is being taken and tell you when we expect to provide you with a full response.

Where applicable the review of your request will consist of an analysis of the initial reasons for withholding the information and, also where applicable, a consideration of how and why the public interest was applied.

If the Chief Executive (or other suitably authorised senior member of NIHRC) overturns the original decision, the request will be processed and the information released to you, entirely or in part.

If the Chief Executive (of other suitable authorised senior member of NIHRC) upholds the original decision you will receive a letter detailing the reasons why we are unable to provide the information requested.

If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, you can contact the Information Commissioner. The contact details are:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 745

Website: www.ico.org.uk

You may also wish to contact the Northern Ireland Regional Office –

Information Commissioners Office

3^rd Floor

14 Cromac Place

Belfast

BT7 2JB

Telephone: 02890 278757 or 0303 123 1114

Email: www.ico.gov.uk