Freedom of information policy

Freedom of Information law

We are committed to complying with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities. Freedom of information law enables anyone, anywhere in the world, to request any recorded information that we hold. The applicant does not have to explain their reasons for the request, or that it is a request under freedom of information law.

Our aim is to make the information easy for you to find and use. We will provide information if we hold it, unless one or more of the exemptions listed in the law applies. We do not have to provide information that is exempt.

If you want to know more about the Freedom of Information Act, visit the Information Commissioner's website.

Our responsibilities

Our Director (Communications, Information and Education and Public and Political Affairs) and Director (Finance, Personnel and Corporate Affairs) have overall responsibility for this policy. Our directors are responsible for making sure that it is implemented and followed. We reserve the right to change the policy at any time.

In most cases you will be able to obtain the information you seek by searching on the Commission’s website or contacting us. In the event that you do need to seek to obtain information from us under the Freedom of Information Act please see the information provided below on how to do so.

Publication scheme

We publish a lot of information about our work and we use the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme.

We routinely make certain information available. This information, which can be found on our website, includes:

• who we are and what we do
• what we spend and how we spend it
• what our priorities are and how we are doing
• how we make decisions
• our policies and procedures
• lists and registers, and
• the services we offer.

If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can write to us to ask for information that we hold.

Making a request

Make your request in writing or email to the contact details below.

The request should contain:

- details about the specific information you are seeking

- your name and how you can be contacted (address, email address and/or phone number)

- how you would like us to send the information to you (for example, by post or by email).

- Please identify any accessibility requirements you may have and if you need to receive the information in an alternative format, eg, large print, tape, Braille, etc.

When you ask us for information please try to be as clear as possible. This will help us to understand your request and respond to you promptly. If your request is unclear, we might ask you for more information to help us understand what you are looking for.

For anyone who is unable to contact us in writing and needs a reasonable adjustment because of a disability, please call us on 028 9024 3987.

Please email you request to the Data Protection Officer at info@nihrc.org or post to the address below:

Data Protection Officer

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

4th Floor, Alfred House

19-21 Alfred Street

Belfast

BT2 8ED

How we deal with FOI requests

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.

After you’ve made your request, we will either:

- give you the information you've asked for

- let you know where you can find the information

- confirm that we don't hold the information, or

- explain why we cannot give you the information.

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 FOI 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.

If you are not happy with the response you receive following an information request, you should contact the Chief Executive Officer of NIHRC in writing.

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, but if it takes longer, we will let you know within that period what action has been 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 overturns the original decision, the request will be processed and the information released to you, entirely or in part.

If the Chief Executive 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