The Information Commissioner has said that the rate of data being released under the Freedom of Information Act needs to improve.
Speaking at the publication of his fourth annual report, Kevin Murphy said while the number of requests for information continued to grow, some public bodies needed to be encouraged to embrace the act more fully.
Last year, the Freedom of Information Act was used in more than 14,000 requests for information from public bodies such as Government departments, health boards or local authorities. This is a 12.5% rise on the previous year.
Mr Murphy, the commissioner in charge of this area, is happy to see usage of the act increasing, but is concerned by the number of refusals that requests meet. Last year, 15% were refused.
The 15% refusal rate compares with an 8% refusal rate in Australia which has legislation similar to that in Ireland.
Mr Murphy said the Australian record could and should be reached here and singled out certain public bodies for specific mention.
While acknowledging that the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice often handled sensitive information, the commissioner said their record on releasing information could still be improved. Local Authorities too, he said, needed to co-operate more fully.
