Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly said today she "strongly disagreed" with the Supreme Court’s decision to stop the publication of primary school inspection reports.
Initially, The Irish Timeshad sought access to the reports, under the Freedom of Information Act, in an attempt to highlight the low literacy levels in many primary schools.
But the Department of Education and Science refused the request on the grounds that access to the information could be used to enable the compilation of information in relation to academic achievement. The INTO also objected to the publication of reports.
Speaking at the publication of her office's annual report for 2004, Ms O’Reilly said that far from providing information from which "crude league tables" could be compiled, the reports were "a broad-based and holistic" look at school life.
They dealt with such subjects as "the socio-economic environment in the school, the accommodation, teaching preparation and planning", how certain subjects are taught, and are "a pat on the back for the teaching profession".
Ms O’Reilly added she thought the Minister for Education wanted to release the reports. "She [Mary Hanafin] has said that she will consult with the education partners".
Addressing the issues in relation to inspection reports on nursing homes, Ms O’Reilly said health boards had in general "no problem with publishing these reports". However, it was nursing home owners who would appeal against their publication.
In the wake of the Prime Timeprogramme on Leas Cross nursing home, she pointed out that some health boards now make these reports public outside of the Freedom of Information Act (FoI), and that she hoped that this would become common practice.
Ms O’Reilly was particularly critical of Holles Street Maternity Hospital and its lack of co-operation when she attempted to review of documents in relation to the Dunne Inquiry into organ retention.
She said that she faced "obstruction" from Holles Street and the hospital would only speak "through a solicitor at all times." It was only at the 11th hour "with the threat of my personally going to collect the documents, as I am entitled to in law," that Holles Street handed over the relevant documents, she said.