This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Information on Grievance, Dignity at Work and Disciplinary cases'.





 
What happens if the Department  
If you wish to complain please write to:  
 
 
does not have the information I  
Departmental Information Manager  
 want? 
Room 6.20 
We may not hold the information you 
Department of the Environment 
request and the legislation does not 
Clarence Court 
require us to gather information that is 
Adelaide Street 
not already there. However, it is possible 
Belfast BT2 8GB  
that another public authority may hold the 
If you are still dissatisfied after the 
information and we can transfer your 
internal review you can request a review 
request to it. Before doing so, we would 
by the Information Commissioner. 
contact you to obtain your agreement. It 
is also possible that we may have had 
 
Where can I get more information 
 
the information at one time but that it has 
about the legislation? 
 
been lawfully destroyed, in which case 
 
we will tell you.  
More information about the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000 and the 
 
 
What if I am refused information? 
Environmental Regulations 2004 is 
 
If we decide not to disclose some 
available through the Department's 
 
information, we must explain to you why 
website www.doeni.gov.uk/foi or from 
The Right to Know 
it is being withheld.  
the Information Commissioner's Office. 
The Commissioner's details are: 
Public Information Leaflet 
 
Can I complain if I am unhappy with 
 
 
the Department’s handling of my 
Website:  
www.ico.gov.uk 
 
 
request for information? 
Phone:  
08456 30 60 60 
Email:  
xx@xxx.xxx.xxx.xx  
 
You have the right to complain to the 
Post: Information 
Commissioner's 
This guide provides a brief outline of 
Department if we do not deal with your 
 Office 
your rights under the Freedom of 
request for information within the 
 Wycliffe 
House 
Information Act 2000 and the 
timescales set by the legislation, that is 
 
Water Lane  
Environmental Information Regulations 
normally not later than 20 working days 
 Wilmslow 
 
2004 and how we will deal with your 
after the date your enquiry is received by 
request for information. This leaflet 
the Department. You also have the right 
 Cheshire 
 
to complain if you are dissatisfied with 
 
SK9 5AF  
should not be regarded as a legal 
our response to your request for 
 
interpretation. 
information.  
 
 

Your complaint must be registered within 
 
two calendar months and will be 
 
investigated by the Department's 
 
Information Manager. You will receive a 
reply as soon as possible and normally 
 
within 40 working days after the date 
 
your complaint is received.  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 

 
What is the Right to Know? 
website. Details of the information 
receipt. This timescale may have to be 
available is listed in our Publication 
extended if the information requested is very 
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 
Scheme which can be accessed on our 
extensive and, therefore takes a long time to 
and the Environmental Information 
website www.doeni.gov.uk/foi. The 
gather, or if we have to consider if providing it 
Regulations 2004 came into effect on 
Publication Scheme is also available in the 
is in the public interest, or if we are waiting for 
1 January 2005. The legislation gives 
reception areas of the Department’s public 
you to pay a fee.   
you the right to request information held 
offices, or by writing to, or phoning the 
by a wide range of public authorities.   
It will help us to process your request more 
Information Management Branch at the 
quickly if you can be as specific as possible 
 
What information can I obtain? 
following address: 
about what information you want. If necessary, 
The legislation enables you to get 
Information Management Branch 
we will contact you to ensure we understand 
information to help you to understand 
Room 6-01A 
your request clearly and this may add to the 
better how the Department works, how 
Department of the Environment 
time we need to respond. It is also important to 
we spend public money, and how and 
Clarence Court 
tell us whether you want the information sent to 
why we make our decisions. However, 
Adelaide Street 
you on paper or by email, and whether you 
you may not be able to obtain all the 
Belfast BT2 8GB 
have any particular requirements. Information 
information you ask for as the 
Phone: 028 90 540012  
may be available in other languages or formats 
legislation contains exemptions for 
on request. 
If the information you want is not available 
some types of information which cannot 
from these sources, you can ask for the 
 
Is there a cost for getting  
be disclosed, for example, information 
information by writing to the department at 
 information? 
about national security, law 
the above address or by sending the 
enforcement or personal information 
You may have to pay for information which is 
electronic mail form on our website. 
about others. 
already published by the Department, for 
The website also contains more detailed 
example, the provision of an Agency’s Annual 
You can also get information under the 
information about the Freedom of 
Report. You may also have to pay a fee for 
Data Protection Act 1998 which, 
Information Act and the Environmental 
other information requested. 
amongst other things, gives individuals 
Information Regulations, and our 
access to their own personal 
This depends on a number of factors including 
procedures for dealing with requests for 
information. 
the volume of material requested.  Responses 
information under this legislation. 
to enquiries that cost the department less than 
 
What are exemptions? 
The website also provides a link to the 
£600 to process1 will normally be provided free 
Both the Freedom of Information Act 
Northern Ireland public sector portal 
of charge, although there may be a small 
and the Environmental Information 
www.nidirect.gov.uk/ where you can 
charge for disbursements2. The Department 
Regulations contain a number of 
obtain further information on accessing the 
has the right to refuse to respond to a request 
exemptions (in the Regulations they are 
websites of all Northern Ireland 
that is estimated to cost more than £600 to 
called “exceptions”) allowing the 
Government Departments.  
process.  
Department to withhold information in 
Please note that you must provide us 
 
certain circumstances. However, most 
with your name and address (or email 
of the information held by the 
 
address) to enable us to respond to 
Department will not be subject to 
 
your request. 
exemptions. 
 
 
How long does it take to get 
 
How do I get information held by the 
 
information? 
Department? 
_____________________________ 
The legislation requires us to respond to 
A wide range of information is already 

your request for information as soon as 
Includes the cost of finding and sorting the material 
available to the public either in printed 
possible after it is received, and not later 

form (for which there may be a charge) 
Disbursements may include costs of photocopying, 
than 20 working days after the date of 
or, if you have Internet access, on our 
printing, postage etc