Courts / Ireland / Report

NGO takes action over IBEC transport submissions

Summary

The High Court has been asked to review a decision by the Commissioner for Environmental Information that a 2016 submission by IBEC to the Minister for Transport was not environmental information. The 'Right to Know' NGO, which seeks to improve public access to information, brought the action after learning that IBEC had lobbied the Minister for Transport between January and April 2016, with the aim of influencing transport policy and infrastructure projects that would affect the environment. In March 2017 the NGO applied under the European Communities Access to Information on the Environment regulations for IBEC's submission, but the Commissioner refused, stating it was not environmental information. The refusal was appealed and dismissed in March 2018. The NGO now seeks orders to set aside the Commissioner's finding, declare the submission to be environmental information, require the Commissioner to give reasons, and possibly remit the matter back for further consideration of exemptions. The case is before Ms Justice Niamh Hyland.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: NGO takes action over IBEC transport submissions. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• April 2016 Other
• March 2017 Other
• March 2018 Other
• 2020-07-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report