FOI 47-25: Information regarding how many MLAs attended the Open Golf Championship in an official capacity

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

18 August 2025
Our ref: FoI 47-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 25 July 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). In your request, you asked:

“1. How many MLAs attended the Open Golf Championship in an official capacity during the timeframe 13th to 20th July inclusive, can this be broken down by MLA name.

2. How many MLAs not in an official capacity availed of complimentary tickets/hospitality during the same time frame as Q1.

Can these MLAs be broken down by name?”

Our response

The Assembly Commission holds information in relation to your request. However, under section 21 of the FOIA, the Assembly Commission is not obliged to provide this information as it is already accessible by another means.

The Assembly Commission can confirm that all declarations of interest can be found in the Register of Interests which is publicly available on the Northern Ireland Assembly website. 

Further Information

You have the right to request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission. If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised. 

Yours sincerely

INFORMATION STANDARDS