Northern Ireland Assembly

The complainant has requested the agendas and minutes of Executive Committee meetings. The Executive Office refused the request in reliance on the exemptions at sections 35(1)(a) (government policy) and 35(1)(b) (ministerial communications) of FOIA, and the exception at regulation 12(4)(e) of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that the exemptions and exception are engaged in respect of all of the requested information. With regard to the minutes, the public interest in maintaining the exemptions and exception outweighs the public interest in disclosure. However, with regard to the agendas, the public interest in maintaining the exemptions and exception does not outweigh the public interest in disclosure. The Commissioner requires the Executive Office to disclose the agendas to the complainant.