Information on mask wearing
Information Standards Freedom of Information Response
Our Ref: FoI 32-21
19th August 2021
Freedom of Information Act 2000
I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) does not hold the information which you requested on 01st August 2021. In your request you asked for the following information:
”Mask wearing is a prophylactic treatment and cannot be mandated for, along with medical devices as per the Public Health Act. Under the Freedom of Information Act can you tell me if the Statutory Instrument is in breach of its parent act?”
You initially wrote to the Clerk/Chief Executive on 26th July 2021 and the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission responded to your query on 29th July 2021. You then made a request for information on 01st August 2021. The Assembly Commission has considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The Assembly Commission is a separate entity to the Northern Ireland Executive and the individual Departments. Statutory Rules in relation to this matter are made by the Department of Health. Information regarding the Northern Ireland government is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
You have the right to request a formal review by the Assembly Commission and if you wish to do so, please write to me at the above address.
If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF who will undertake an independent review.
The Assembly Commission may publish details of your FOI request and our official response within the organisational disclosure log. The request will be completely anonymised and you will not be identified in any way. This is to meet the requirements as laid out by in the agreed publication scheme with the Information Commissioners’ Office.
If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
INFORMATION STANDARDS
