Information Commissioner's Office

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

21 August 2014, Central government

The complainant requested information about the tabling of the Sexual Orientation Strategy and Action Plan at meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive. The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) refused the request in reliance on the exemption at section 36(2)(a)(ii) of the FOIA. The Commissioner’s decision is that the requested information falls under the exemption at sections 35(1)(a) and (b) and therefore section 36(2)(a)(ii) is not engaged. The Commissioner finds that the public interest in maintaining the section 35 exemptions does not outweigh the public interest in disclosing the requested information. The Commissioner requires the public authority to disclose which months in the period 1 November 2011 – 31 October 2013 that the Sexual Orientation Strategy and Action Plan has been tabled at meetings of the Northern Ireland Executive by the First and deputy First Minister, or by any other Minister.

FOI 35: Upheld FOI 36: Upheld