Freedom of Information Act, 1997

Review of operation of Act and investigations by Commissioner.

36.—(1) The Commissioner shall keep the operation of this Act under review and may, subject to subsection (2), carry out an investigation at any time into the practices and procedures adopted by public bodies generally or any particular public body or public bodies for the purposes of compliance with—

(a) the provisions of this Act generally,

(b) any particular provisions of this Act.

(2) The Commissioner shall carry out an investigation under subsection (1) (a) in relation to public bodies generally not later than 3 years after the commencement of this Act.

(3) The Commissioner may at any time carry out an investigation into the practices and procedures adopted by public bodies or any particular public body or public bodies for the purposes of enabling persons to exercise the rights conferred by this Act and facilitating such exercise.

(4) The Commissioner may at any time prepare a report, in writing or such other form as may be determined—

(a) of his or her findings and conclusions resulting from the performance of any function under subsection (1) (2) or (3), or

(b) on any matter relating to or arising out of the performance of such a function.

(5) The Commissioner shall, if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, cause a copy of a report under this section to be furnished to the Minister and to each public body concerned and shall cause a copy of the report to be appended to the report under section 40 (1) prepared next after the preparation of the first-mentioned report.