THE government’s transparency watchdog is chronically short-staffed and has dozens of cases over a year old, the Morning Star has found.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) investigates complaints made about freedom of information (FOI) requests that have been rejected by public bodies in England, Wales and the north of Ireland.
Despite its powerful mandate, the ICO has just two staff assigned to processing complaints at its bureau in Belfast, where the backlog is worst.
JOHN GREEN has doubts about the efficacy of the Freedom of Information Act, once trumpeted by Tony Blair
Why not pay a visit to Feile an Phobail, a people’s festival of community arts with roots in the days of internment without trial, and where the spirit of solidarity remains undimmed, says LYNDA WALKER



