A Government minister has won his appeal over the Information Commissioner's decision that a journalist is entitled to commercial information about the State's fibre optic network under the Freedom of Information Act. Mr Sheridan, a notice party to the action, sought access to information including a concession agreement concerning the fibre optic cable network. The State-owned fibre optic cable infrastructure is known as the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and is used by some telecom operators to provide broadband and other services to customers. The Commissioner in November 2015 upheld Mr Sheridan's appeal over that refusal and found the public interest would be better served by releasing the information. It could not be said the Commissioner's decision was irrational, outside discretion or not in the public interest, he held.

Source: Irish Examiner March 06, 2019 16:17 UTC