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Suggested Essays/Quiz

Suggested Essays

1. In 1735, a famous American lawyer of his day, Andrew Hamilton, when speaking of good governance and the exercise of power said that:

"power may be compared to a great river; while kept within banks, it is beautiful and useful, but when it overflows its banks it bears down all before it and brings destruction and desolation wherever it comes. A bad precedent in one government is soon an authority for another. Therefore we ought to be on our guard against power wherever we apprehend that it may affect ourselves or our fellow subjects".

Based on the information on this site and in the links provided, can you identify and describe the remedies available to those institutions charged with ensuring that public bodies exercise their powers appropriately.

2. In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court overturned a decision of the Information Commissioner to release primary school inspection reports. What kind of information about the performance of individual schools should be released, if any?

3. Consult with you teacher about making an FOI request to a public body about an issue of local interest. Describe the process and outcome of your request.

4. Find an Information Commissioner's website in another country and compare it with this site. Which one do you prefer? Give reasons for your answer.

5. Suppose it was decided tomorrow to abolish the Freedom of Information Act. What effect, if any, would this have on the behaviour of the Government, the Oireachtas, public bodies and members of the public?

Quiz

1. Who is responsible for auditing the accounts of public bodies?

1. Answer

2. According to the Ombudsman's Guide to Standards of Best Practice for Public Bodies, how should public bodies treat their clients?

2. Answer

3. In general, what kind of information can you not get under the FOI Act?

3. Answer

4. What is the name of the Children's Ombudsman?

4. Answer

5. What three words describe the underlying principle behind freedom of information legislation everywhere?

5. Answer

6. What are the main functions of the Information Commissioner?

Answer

7. What powers does the Ombudsman have?

Answer

8. What are the five principles which the European Commission identified as underpinning good governance in its White Paper on that subject?

Answer

9. What does the Comptroller and Auditor General do?

Answer

10. How much does it cost to make an appeal to the Information Commissioner?

Answer

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