Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Requests Course

A two-hour webinar with a question and answer session.

• The implications for Wind Energy Ireland members of being deemed to be “public authorities” (as the High Court has found) under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 (as amended) (AIE Regulations); and
• The practical knowledge and comprehension WEI members will need in order to know how to deal with, process, and decide on, AIE requests

• To impart information on, and help attendees understand, how and why the AIE Regulations apply to members of Wind Energy Ireland.
• To impart information on, and help attendees understand, the key contents of, and concepts within, the AIE Regulations.
• To impart information on, and help attendees understand how to deal with, process, and decide on, AIE requests in accordance with the AIE Regulations

The course will outline the recent High Court decision in the Raheenleagh Power case, how it came about and its implications for the wind energy industry.  In particular, it will set out how and why private companies, such as Raheenleagh Power DAC, have been deemed to fall within the definition of a “public authority” under the AIE Regulations, thus triggering an obligation to entertain and process requests for access to environmental information under the AIE Regulations, and to make available environmental information to members of the public.

The course will also outline practical matters, such as what the AIE Regulations entail, and how to do deal with, and process, requests in a practical sense.  This part will outline what information is in play, admissible requests, dealing with requests and the timeframes for same, and making available, or refusing access to, environmental information (as well as the grounds for refusal).

Niall Michel is a solicitor, and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, the University of Cambridge, and King’s Inns, Dublin.  He is a partner in Mason Hayes & Curran LLP, specialising in information law, and in particular, in the law and practice relating to Freedom of Information (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment (AIE), and information-access and disclosure issues generally.

He is a former legal adviser to the Information Commissioner and the Commissioner for Environmental Information, who, respectively, deal with reviews and appeals of decisions made under the FOI and AIE legislation.

He advises many public authorities on their obligations under FOI and AIE, and assists them in handling particular requests.