Under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997/ 2003, an individual is entitled to apply for access to information not otherwise publicly available. An applicant has a right to:

• Access records held by the Hospital.
• Correct personal information relating to him/herself held by the Hospital.
• Access reasons for decisions made by the Hospital directly affecting him/herself.

The following records come under the scope of the Acts:

• All records relating to personal information held by the Hospital irrespective of when created. ·
• All other records created from commencement date i.e. 21st April 1998. ·
• Any other records necessary to the understanding of a current record.
• Personnel records of serving staff created from 21st April 1995 and those created prior to that date where being used or proposed to be used in a way which adversely affects or may affect the person involved.

How to make a request:

1. State that the request is under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997/ 2003. No legal formulae are required: it is sufficient to mention the name of the Act or to state that a "freedom of information" request is being made. Applicants requesting records that would only be available under the Act without explicitly mentioning the act or "Freedom of Information" will receive a letter from the hospital informing them of this and offering assistance in preparing a valid request under the provisions of the Act.
2. Provide sufficient information. Applicants should provide enough information to enable the hospital to identify the records requested. ·
3. State any preference for the format in which the records are to be supplied. The hospital will try to accommodate such preferences where practicable.
4. Provide full personal contact details. These must be sufficient to allow the hospital to establish the bona fides of applicants requesting personal information. The hospital will provide a Freedom of Information application form on request.

Staff in the Freedom of Information office will assist applicants in preparing requests.

All applications under the Freedom of information Act 1997 should be addressed to:
The Freedom of Information Co-ordinator,
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Dublin 7
Tel: 8032982
Fax: 8032938
E.Mail: foi@mater.ie