Department for Regional Development for Northern Ireland

The complainant requested information from the Department for Regional Development (DRD) about discussions relating to a particular contract. The Department advised that it did not hold some of the requested information, and provided some of the requested information that it did hold to the complainant. The Department withheld the remaining information in reliance on the exceptions at regulations 12(4)(e), 12(5)(b) and 12(5)(d) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Department was entitled to rely on regulation 12(4)(e) in respect of all the withheld information. Further, the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. The Commissioner does not require any steps to be taken.