FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

CHAPTER 496

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

To establish a right to information held by public authorities in order to promote added

transparency and accountability in government.

31st July, 2009 * ;

21st April, 2010 † ;

1st September, 2012 ‡ .

ACT XVI of 2008 , as amended by Legal Notice 426 of 2012 .

(1)

The short title of this Act is Freedom of Information

Act.

(2) This Act shall come into force on such a date as the

Minister may by notice in the Gazette appoint, and different dates

may be so appointed for different provisions or different purposes

of this Act.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires

"applicant" means, in relation to a request for the disclosure of a

document in accordance with article 3, the person who made that

request;

"Commissioner" means the Information and Data Protection

Commissioner appointed in terms of article 11 of the Data

Protection Act;

"decision notice" has the meaning given by article 23;

"document" means any article that is held by a public authority

and on which information has been recorded in whatever form,

including electronic data, images, scale models and other visual

representations, and audio or video recordings, regardless of

whether the information can be read, seen, heard or retrieved with

or without the aid of any other article or device;

"eligible person" means a person who is resident in Malta and

who has been so resident in Malta for a period of at least five years,

and who is either a citizen of Malta or a citizen of any other

member state of the European Union or a citizen of any other state

the citizens of which have a right, in virtue of any treaty between

such state and the European Union, to be treated in Malta in the

same manner as citizens of member states of the European Union;

"enforcement notice" has the meaning given by article 25;

"European Union" has the meaning given by the European Union

Act;

"exempt document" means a document which is not subject to

disclosure under this Act in accordance with Parts V and VI;

"exempt matter" means matter the inclusion of which in a

document causes the document to be an exempt document;

"information notice" has the meaning given by article 24;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for freedom of

information and data protection;

"Principal Permanent Secretary" means the officer appointed in

terms of article 14 of the Public Administration Act;

"public authority" means

(a) the Government, including any ministry or department

thereof;

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(b) a Government agency established in terms of the

Public Administration Act or any other law; and

(c) any body established under any law, or any partnership

or other body in which the Government of Malta, a

Government agency or any such body as aforesaid has

a controlling interest or over which it has effective

control;

"relevant public authority" means a public authority other than

those mentioned in article 5;

"Tribunal" means the Information and Data Protection Appeals

Tribunal established under article 24 of the Data Protection Act.

Any eligible person has a right of access to documents held

by public authorities in accordance with and subject to the

provisions of this Act.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing public

authorities from publishing or granting access to documents

(including exempt documents) otherwise than as required by this

(1) Subject to sub-article (2), this Act shall not apply to

documents that -

(a) are held by a Local Council and are accordingly

subject to article 45 of the Local Government Act;

(b) are subject to the Freedom of Access to Information on

the Environment Regulations or to any other

regulations made under the Environment Protection

Act and providing for freedom of access to

information;

(c) have been transferred to the National Archives in

accordance with the National Archives Act;

(d) are accessible to the public under any other law;

(e) are available for purchase by the public in accordance

with arrangements made by a public authority; or

(f) are held by a commercial partnership in which the

Government or another public authority has a

controlling interest, in so far as the documents in

question relate to the commercial activities of the

commercial partnership.

(2) This Act shall apply to documents to which subarticle (1)

refers only in so far as may be provided for by any law governing

access to such documents.

(3) This Act shall not apply to documents in so far as such

documents contain -

(a) personal data subject to the Data Protection Act; or

(b) information the disclosure of which is prohibited by

any other law

Provided that where it is possible to release a document

with such data or information deleted, this shall be done in

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

accordance with article 13(1) and (2).

(4)

This Act shall not apply to documents held by

(a)

the Electoral Commission;

(b)

the Employment Commission;

(c)

the Public Service Commission;

(d)

the Office of the Attorney General;

(e)

the National Audit Office;

(f)

the Security Service; or

(g)

the Broadcasting Authority, in so far as such

documents relate to its functions under article 119(1)

of the Constitution; or

(h) the Ombudsman.

PART II

SUBMISSION AND HANDLING OF REQUESTS

FOR INFORMATION

(1) An applicant’s request to a public authority in terms of

article 3 shall -

(a) be delivered in writing, including by post or

electronically, subject to paragraph (e), to an office of

the public authority; and

(b) provide such information concerning the document as

is reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer

of the public authority to identify it; and

(c) include a copy of the applicant’s legally valid

identification document or residence permit, or make

reference to a legally valid identification document or

residence permit in such a way as may be specified by

regulations issued under article 42(a);

(d) specify a postal address at which notices under this

Act may, if necessary, be sent to the applicant; and

(e) be accompanied by any fee payable in accordance with

article 9(3).

(2) No applicant shall be required to justify or give any reasons

for a request under this Act, and any beliefs of public authorities as

to what are the applicant’s reasons for seeking access shall not

affect that request.

Where an eligible person -

(a) wishes to make a request to a public authority; or

(b) has made to a public authority a request that does not

comply with article 6,

it is the duty of the public authority to take reasonable steps to

assist the person to make the request in a manner that complies

with article 6, and it shall do so at no charge.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Where a request in accordance with article 6 is made to a

public authority, and the document to which the request relates is

not held by the authority but is believed by the person dealing with

the request to be held by another public authority, the public

authority to which the request is made shall promptly, and in any

case not later than ten working days after the day on which the

request is received, transfer the request to the other public authority

and inform the applicant accordingly.

(1) Subject to subarticle (2) and to any regulations issued

under this Act, a public authority may charge a fee to an applicant

for access to a document in accordance with this Act.

(2) Any fee set by a public authority shall not exceed the cost

of making a document available to the applicant, whereas if

regulations issued as aforesaid prescribe a range of standard fees,

such fees shall not exceed the average cost of making documents

available to applicants.

(3) Regulations issued as aforesaid may provide for the

payment of a fee specifically for the processing of a request for

access to documents, and for the payment of such a fee on

presentation of the request.

(4) Where a public authority decides to charge an applicant a

fee, it shall advise him accordingly and inform him that he has the

right to complain to the Commissioner under article 23 if he feels

that the fee is excessive

Provided that if the fee is a standard fee established by

regulations under this Act, the Commissioner may in response to

such a complaint inquire only into whether the regulations have

been correctly applied.

(5) A public authority may waive any fees payable in respect of

a particular application if, in the opinion of the authority -

(a) the fee payable is so small as to be not worth

collecting; or

(b) payment of the fee would cause financial hardship to

the applicant, bearing in mind the applicant’s means

and circumstances; or

(c) disclosure of the information requested is in the public

interest.

(6) Where a public authority fails to meet the time limit set by

article 10 or, if applicable, article 11, it shall not charge any fee for

access to a document.

Subject to this Act, the public authority to which a request

is made in accordance with article 6 or is transferred in accordance

with article 8 shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any

case not later than twenty working days after the day on which the

request is received by the authority -

(a) decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is

to be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if

any); and

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(b) inform the applicant accordingly in writing.

(1) Where a request in accordance with article 6 is made

or transferred to a public authority, the authority may extend the

time limit set out in article 10 by up to forty working days in

respect of the request if -

(a) the request is for a large number of documents or

necessitates a search through a large number of

documents, and meeting the original time limit would

unreasonably interfere with the operations of the

public authority; or

(b) consultations necessary to make a decision on the

request are such that a proper response to the request

cannot reasonably be made within the original time

limit.

(2) Any extension under subarticle (1) shall be for a reasonable

period of time having regard to the circumstances.

(3) The extension shall be effected by giving notice to the

person who made the request within twenty working days after the

day on which the request is received, and the notice shall -

(a) specify the period of the extension;

(b) give the reasons for the extension;

(c) state that the applicant has the right under article 23 to

make a complaint to the Commissioner about the

extension; and

(d) contain such other information as is necessary.

(1) A public authority may grant an applicant access to a

document in one or more of the following ways

(a) by giving the applicant a reasonable opportunity to

inspect the document; or

(b) by providing the applicant with a copy of the

document; or

(c) in the case of a document that is a recording of sounds

or visual images, by making arrangements for the

applicant to hear or view those sounds or visual

images; or

(d) in the case of a document by which words are recorded

in a manner in which they are capable of being

reproduced in the form of sound or in which words are

contained in the form of shorthand writing or in

codified form, by providing the applicant with a

written transcript of the words recorded or contained

in the document; or

(e) by giving an excerpt or summary of the contents.

(2) Subject to article 13, the public authority shall make the

document available to the applicant in the way preferred by the

applicant unless to do so would -

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(a) impair efficient administration; or

(b) be contrary to any legal duty of the public authority in

respect of the document; or

(c) prejudice the interests protected by Part V and Part VI

and (in the case of the interests protected by Part VI)

those interests are not outweighed by a contrary public

interest.

(3) Where access is not granted in the way preferred by the

applicant, the public authority shall give to the applicant the reason

for not providing the information in that way and state that the

applicant has the right under article 23 to make a complaint thereon

to the Commissioner.

(1) Where a request is made to a public authority for a

document which is an exempt document, but -

(a) it is possible for the public authority to make a copy of

the document with the deletion of the exempt matter;

and

(b) it is reasonably practical for the public authority,

having regard to the nature and extent of the work

involved in deciding on and making those deletions

and the resources available for that work, to make such

a copy,

the public authority shall make such a copy available to the

applicant.

(2) Where access is granted to a copy of a document in

accordance with subarticle (1), the applicant shall be informed -

(a) that it is a copy;

(b) of the grounds for the deletions; and

(c) that the applicant has the right under article 23 to make

a complaint to the Commissioner about the deletions.

(3) Where a document (not being an exempt document)

contains material that is irrelevant to the applicant’s request, the

public authority may, if possible and reasonably practical and if the

applicant agrees, make available to the applicant a copy of the

document with the irrelevant material deleted; but a document may

not be withheld on the grounds that it contains irrelevant material

which cannot be deleted.

A request made in accordance with article 6 may be

refused only for one or more of the following reasons

(a) that the document requested is excluded from the

scope of this Act by virtue of article 5;

(b) that, by virtue of Part V or Part VI, there is good

reason for withholding the document requested;

(c) that, by virtue of article 34, the public authority does

not confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of

the document requested;

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(d) that the document requested is publicly available or

will be published within three months;

(e) that the document requested cannot be found, and this

is certified in writing by the head of the public

authority;

(f) that the resources required to -

(i) identify, locate or collate a document or

documents;

(ii) examine a document or consult any person or

body in relation to its possible disclosure; or

(iii) make a copy, or an edited copy, of a document,

would substantially and unreasonably divert the

resources of the public authority from its other

operations, and it has not proved possible for the

applicant, with advice from the public authority, to

redefine his request in such a manner as to make it

more easily addressed by the authority;

(g) that the document requested is not held by the public

authority and the person dealing with the request has

no grounds for believing that the document is held by,

or connected more closely with the functions of,

another public authority; or

(h) that the request is frivolous or vexatious or that the

information requested is trivial.

(1) Where a request made in accordance with this Act is

refused, the public authority shall -

(a) subject to article 34, give the applicant the reasons for

the refusal; and

(b) state that the applicant has the right, under article 23,

to seek an investigation and review by the

Commissioner of the refusal.

(2) A notice under this article is not required to contain any

matter that is of such a nature that its inclusion in a document

would cause that document to be an exempt document.

(1) A decision by a public authority in respect of a request

under this Act shall, subject to article 6(c) of the Interpretation Act,

be taken by -

(a) the head of the public authority or its governing board

(as applicable), as identified in or established under

the Public Administration Act or any other instrument

to which the authority is subject; or

(b) an officer of the public authority, acting within the

scope of the authority exercisable by him in

accordance with arrangements approved by the head of

the authority or by its governing board.

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(2) A decision to disclose or grant access to a document in

accordance with this Act shall constitute authorised disclosure in

terms of the Official Secrets Act.

PART III

ACCESS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTS

(1) Not later than one year after the coming into force of

this article, every relevant public authority shall publish, in

accordance with any instructions issued by the Commissioner

(a) a description of its structure, functions and

responsibilities;

(b) a general description of the categories of documents

held by it;

(c) a description of all manuals and similar types of

documents which contain policies, principles, rules or

guidelines in accordance with which decisions or

recommendations are made in respect of members of

the public (including bodies corporate and employees

of the public authority in their personal capacity); and

(d) a statement of the information that needs to be

available to members of the public who wish to obtain

access to official documents from the public authority,

which statement shall include particulars of the officer

or officers to whom requests for such access should be

sent.

(2) The Minister may, by regulations issued in consultation

with the Commissioner, require relevant public authorities to

publish information additional to that listed in subarticle (1).

(3) Each public authority shall update the material published in

accordance with subarticles (1) and (2) at least annually, or at more

frequent intervals as may be established by regulations issued

under subarticle (2).

(4) Publication on an internet website or another electronic

medium that is publicly accessible at all reasonable times shall be

sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this article, provided that

the information published hereunder shall be made available in

printed form to members of the public who so require it.

(5) Nothing in this article shall require the publication of

information where there is good reason under this Act to withhold

it.

(1) Regulations may be issued under this Act to establish a

right of access to information which is held by bodies or persons

other than public authorities or the employees thereof, and which

pertains to

(a) services provided to the public by such bodies or

persons on behalf of the Government or another public

authority; or

(b) projects or initiatives which are undertaken by such

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

bodies or persons but financed by the Government or

another public authority.

(2) The giving of access to any information to which subarticle

(1) applies shall be subject to the provisions of any regulations

made under this Act.

(1) Subject to Part V and Part VI, any eligible person has a

right to and shall, on request made under this article, be given

access to any document (including a manual) which is held by a

public authority and which contains policies, principles, rules, or

guidelines in accordance with which decisions or recommendations

are made in respect of members of the public (including bodies

corporate and employees of the public authority in their personal

capacity).

(2) The provisions of Part II other than articles 12 and 13 shall

apply mutatis mutandis to a request made under subarticle (1).

(3) Where, by virtue of Part V and Part VI, there is good reason

for withholding parts of a document to which subarticle (1) relates,

the public authority shall, unless it is impracticable to do so, either

(a) make a copy of that document available with such

deletions or alterations as are necessary; or

(b) provide another document stating the substance and

effect of the document except as it relates to the

information withheld.

(4) Where a document is made available in accordance with

subarticle (3), the public authority shall -

(a) give to the applicant the reasons for withholding the

information; and

(b) state that the applicant has the right, under article 23,

to seek an investigation and review by the

Commissioner of the withholding of the information.

(1) Subject to the provisions of Part V and Part VI, where

a public authority makes a decision or recommendation in respect

of any eligible person, including an eligible person acting on behalf

of a body corporate, that person has the right to and shall, on

request within six months from when the person learns of the

decision or recommendation, be given a written statement of -

(a) the findings on material issues of fact; and

(b) subject to subarticle (2), a reference to the information

on which the findings were based; and

(c) the reasons for the decision or recommendation.

(2) A reference to the information on which any findings were

based need not be given under subarticle (1)(b) if -

(a) the disclosure of the information or of information

identifying the person who supplied it, being

evaluative material, would breach an express or

implied promise to the person who supplied the

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

information to the effect that the information, or his

identity, or both would be held in confidence; or

(b) after consultation undertaken (where practicable) by or

on behalf of the public authority with a natural

person’s medical practitioner, the public authority is

satisfied that the information relates to that person and

the disclosure of the information (being information

that relates to the physical or mental health of the

person making the request under this article) would be

likely to prejudice the physical or mental health of that

person; or

(c) in the case of a natural person under the age of

eighteen, the disclosure of the information would be

contrary to that person’s interests; or

(d) the disclosure of the information (being information in

respect of a person who has been convicted of an

offence or is or has been detained in custody) would be

likely to prejudice the safe custody or the

rehabilitation of that person.

(3) For the purposes of subarticle (2)(a), the term "evaluative

material" means an assessment or opinion compiled solely -

(a) for the purpose of determining the suitability,

eligibility or qualifications of the person to whom the

material relates for purposes relating to the award,

continuation or cancellation of an appointment, a

contract, an award, a scholarship, an honour or any

other benefit; or

(b) for the purpose of determining whether to insure any

person or property or to continue or renew such

insurance.

(4) The provisions of Part II other than articles 12 and 13 shall

apply mutatis mutandis to a request made under subarticle (1).

PART IV

THE INFORMATION AND DATA PROTECTION

COMMISSIONER

(1) In addition to his duties under the Data Protection Act

it shall be the duty of the Commissioner to promote the observance

by relevant public authorities of -

(a) the requirements of this Act; and

(b) the provisions of the code of practice issued under

article 41.

(2) The Commissioner shall arrange for the dissemination in

such form and manner as he considers appropriate of such

information as it may appear to him expedient to give to the

(a) about the operation of this Act,

(b) about compliance with the law, and

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(c) about other matters within the scope of his functions

under this Act,

and he may give advice to any person or authority as to any of

those matters.

(3) Without prejudice to articles 22, 24 and 25, the

Commissioner may, with the consent or at the request of any public

authority, assess whether that authority is following good practice.

(4) The Commissioner may charge such sums as he may, with

the consent of the Minister, determine for any of the services

provided by the Commissioner under this article.

(5) Within three months following the end of each calendar

year the Commissioner shall prepare and submit to the Minister an

annual report on the workings of this Act during that year, and the

Minister shall at the first available opportunity cause a copy of the

report to be laid on the table of the House of Representatives; the

report shall state

(a) how many requests for information under this Act

have been made to public authorities;

(b) how many of these requests have been accepted and

rejected;

(c) the reasons for rejection;

(d) the average time taken to reply to requests;

(e) how many complaints have been made to the

Commissioner, the grounds for such complaints, and

the outcome thereof;

(f) the number of appeals lodged with the Tribunal and

how they have been determined; and

(g) the number of information, decision and enforcement

notices issued by the Commissioner.

(6) Without prejudice to subarticle (4) and to articles 26, 39

a n d 4 0 , i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f hi s f u n c t i o n s u n d e r t h i s Ac t t h e

Commissioner shall act independently and shall not be subject to

the direction or control of any other person or authority.

(7) In this article "good practice", in relation to a public

authority, means such practice in the discharge of its functions

under this Act as appears to the Commissioner to be desirable, and

includes (but is not limited to) compliance with the requirements of

this Act and the provisions of the code of practice issued under

article 41.

(1) If it appears to the Commissioner that the practice of a

relevant public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions

under this Act does not conform with that proposed in the code of

practice issued under article 41, he may give to the authority a

recommendation (in this section referred to as a "practice

recommendation") specifying the steps which ought in his opinion

to be taken for promoting such conformity.

(2)

A practice recommendation must be given in writing and

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must refer to the particular provisions of the code of practice with

which, in the Commissioner ’s opinion, the public authority’s

practice does not conform.

(1) Any applicant may apply to the Commissioner for a

decision whether, in any specified respect -

(a) a request for information made by the applicant to a

public authority has been dealt with in accordance

with the requirements of this Act; or

(b) a public authority is in compliance with the

requirements set out in Part III.

(2) On receiving an application under this article, the

Commissioner shall make a decision unless it appears to him -

(a) that the applicant has not exhausted any complaints

procedure which may be provided by the public

authority in conformity with the code of practice

issued under article 41

Provided that the Commissioner may decide on the

application if in his opinion the complaints procedure

provided by the public authority has not been, or is

unlikely to be, concluded within a reasonable period;

(b) that there has been undue delay in making the

application;

(c) that the application is frivolous or vexatious; or

(d) that the application has been withdrawn or abandoned.

(3) Where the Commissioner has received an application under

this article, he shall either -

(a) notify the applicant that he has not made any decision

under this article as a result of the application and of

his grounds for not doing so; or

(b) serve notice of his decision (in this Act referred to as a

"decision notice") on the applicant and the public

authority.

(4)

Where the Commissioner decides that a public authority -

(a) has failed to provide access to a document, or to

confirm or deny the existence of a document, in a case

where it is required to do so under this Act; or

(b) has failed to comply with any of the other

requirements of Part II in its handling of the

applicant’s request for a document; or

(c) has failed to comply with any of the requirements of

Part III,

the decision notice shall specify the steps which must be taken by

the authority for complying with that requirement and the period

within which they must be taken.

(5) A decision notice shall contain particulars of the right of

appeal conferred by article 39.

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(6) Where a decision notice requires steps to be taken by the

public authority within a specified period, the time specified in the

notice shall not expire before the end of the period within which an

appeal can be brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is

brought, no step which is affected by the appeal need be taken

pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

(7)

This article shall have effect subject to article 26.

(1) If the Commissioner has received an application under

article 23, or reasonably requires any information -

(a) for the purpose of determining whether a public

authority has complied or is complying with any of the

requirements of this Act; or

(b) for the purpose of determining whether the practice of

a public authority in relation to the exercise of its

functions under this Act conforms with that set out in

the code of practice established under article 41,

he may serve the authority with a notice (in this Act referred to as

an "information notice") requiring it, within such time as is

specified in the notice, to furnish the Commissioner, in such a

manner as may be so specified, with such information as is so

specified relating to the application or to the purposes to which

paragraphs (a) and (b) refer.

(2) An information notice shall specify the purpose for which

the Commissioner requires the information and, where it refers to

information recorded in a document, shall include such details as is

reasonably necessary to enable a responsible officer of the public

authority to identify that document.

(3) An information notice shall also contain particulars of the

right of appeal conferred by article 39.

(4) The time period specified in an information notice shall not

expire before the end of the period within which an appeal can be

brought against the notice and, if such an appeal is brought, the

information required by the notice need not be furnished pending

the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

(5) A public authority shall not be required by virtue of this

article to make available to the Commissioner any information in

respect of

(a) any communication between a professional legal

adviser and his client in connection with the giving of

legal advice to the client with respect to his

obligations, liabilities or rights under this Act; or

(b) any communication between a professional legal

adviser and his client, or between such an adviser or

his client and any other person, made in connection

with or in contemplation of proceedings under or

arising out of this Act (including proceedings before

the Tribunal) and for the purposes of such proceedings.

(6)

In subarticle (5) references to the client of a professional

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legal adviser include references to any person representing such a

client.

(7) The Commissioner may cancel an information notice by

written notice to the public authority on which it was served.

(8) In this

article

"information"

includes

unrecorded

information.

(1) If the Commissioner is satisfied that a public authority

has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Act, the

Commissioner may serve the authority with a notice (in this Act

referred to as "an enforcement notice") requiring the authority to

take, within such a time as may be specified in the notice, such

steps as may be so specified for complying with those obligations.

(2)

An enforcement notice shall contain -

(a) a statement of the requirement or requirements of this

Act with which the public authority has, in the

Commissioner’s satisfied opinion, failed to comply,

and his reasons for reaching that conclusion; and

(b) particulars of the right of appeal conferred by article

24. (1) Jekk il-Kummissarju jkun irċieva applikazzjoni taħt l-

artikolu 23, jew ikun jeħtieġ raġonevolment xi informazzjoni -

(a) sabiex jiddetermina jekk awtorità pubblika kenitx

ikkonformat jew hix qed tikkonforma ma’ xi rekwiżiti

ta’ dan l-Att; jew

(b) sabiex jiddetermina jekk il-prattika ta’ awtorità

pubblika f’relazzjoni mal-eżerċizzju tal-funzjonijiet

tagħha taħt dan l-Att tikkonformax ma’ dak li hu

mniżżel fil-kodiċi ta’ prattika stabbilit taħt l-artikolu

41,

hu jista’ jibgħat lill-awtorità avviż (f’dan l-Att imsejjaħ "avviż ta’

informazzjoni") li jitlobha biex, fiż-żmien kif speċifikat fl-avviż,

tgħaddi lill-Kummissarju, bil-mod kif jista’ jkun speċifikat, dik l-

informazzjoni kif inhi hekk speċifikata li għandha x’taqsam mal-

applikazzjoni jew mal-iskopijiet li jirreferu għalihom il-paragrafi

(a) u (b).

(2) Avviż ta’ informazzjoni għandu jispeċifika l-iskop li għalih

il-Kummissarju jeħtieġ l-informazzjoni u, meta jirreferi għal

informazzjoni reġistrata f ’dokument, għandu jinkludi dawk id-

dettalji raġonevolment meħtieġa biex uffiċjal responsabbli tal-

awtorità pubblika jkun jista’ jidentifika dak id-dokument.

(3) Avviż ta’ informazzjoni għandu wkoll jipprovdi tagħrif

dwar id-dritt ta’ appell mogħti mill-artikolu 39.

(4) Il-perjodu ta’ żmien speċifikat f’avviż ta’ informazzjoni

m’għandux jiskadi qabel tmiem il-perjodu li tulu jista’ jitressaq

appell kontra l-avviż u, jekk dan l-appell ikun tressaq, l-

informazzjoni mitluba fl-avviż m’hemmx għalfejn tingħata

sakemm l-appell ikun deċiż jew irtirat.

(5) Awtorità pubblika m’għandhiex tkun mitluba bis-saħħa ta’

dan l-artikolu li tgħaddi lill-Kummissarju xi informazzjoni fir-

rigward ta’

(a) xi komunikazzjoni bejn konsulent legali professjonali

u l-klijent tiegħu f’konnessjoni mal-għoti ta’ parir

legali

lill-klijent

fir-rigward

tal-obbligi,

responsabbiltajiet jew drittijiet tiegħu taħt dan l-Att;

jew

(b) xi komunikazzjoni bejn konsulent legali professjonali

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

u l-klijent tiegħu, jew bejn tali konsulent jew il-klijent

tiegħu u xi persuna oħra, magħmula f’konnessjoni ma’

proċeduri attwali jew possibbli taħt dan l-Att jew li

jirriżultaw minnu (inklużi proċeduri quddiem it-

Tribunal) u għall-iskopijiet ta’ dawn il-proċeduri.

(6) Fis-subartikolu (5), referenzi għall-klijent ta’ konsulent

legali professjonali jinkludi referenzi għal xi persuna li

tirrappreżenta lil dan il-klijent.

(7) Il-Kummissarju jista’ jħassar xi avviż ta’ informazzjoni

b’avviż bil-miktub lill-awtorità pubblika li tkun irċevietu.

(8) F’dan l-artikolu "informazzjoni" tinkludi informazzjoni

mhux reġistrata.

25. (1) Jekk il-Kummissarju hu sodisfatt li awtorità pubblika

naqset milli tikkonforma ma’ xi wieħed mill-obbligi tagħha taħt

dan l-Att, il-Kummissarju jista’ jibgħat lill-awtorità avviż (f’dan l-

Att imsejjaħ "avviż ta’ infurzar") li jitlob lill-awtorità li, tul dak iż-

żmien kif jista’ jkun speċifikat fl-avviż, tieħu dawk il-passi kif

jistgħu jkunu speċifikati biex tikkonforma ma’ dawk l-obbligi.

(2)

Avviż ta’ infurzar għandu jkun fih -

(a) dikjarazzjoni tar-rekwiżit jew rekwiżiti ta’ dan l-Att li

magħhom l-awtorità pubblika, fl-opinjoni sodisfatta

tal-Kummissarju, naqset milli tikkonforma, u r-

raġunijiet li wassluh biex jasal għal dik il-konklużjoni;

u

(b) tagħrif dwar id-dritt ta’ appell mogħti mill-artikolu 39.

(3) Avviż ta’ infurzar m’għandux jitlob konformità ma’ xi

dispożizzjoni tal-avviż qabel tmiem il-perjodu li tulu jista’ jitressaq

appell kontra l-avviż, u, jekk dan l-appell jitressaq, ma tenħtieġx

konformità mal-avviż sakemm l-appell ikun deċiż jew irtirat.

(4) Il-Kummissarju jista’ jħassar xi avviż ta’ infurzar b’avviż

bil-miktub lill-awtorità pubblika li tkun irċevietu.

(5)

Dan l-artikolu għandu jkollu effett bla ħsara għall-artikolu

26.

26. (1) Avviż ta’ deċiżjoni jew ta’ infurzar maħruġ mill-

Kummissarju fir-rigward tal-iżvelar ta’ dokument ikun bla effett

jekk il-Prim Ministru jiċċertifika lill-Kummissarju li, fl-opinjoni

tiegħu, id-dokument hu dokument eżentat skont it-termini ta’ xi

waħda mid-dispożizzjonijiet tat-Taqsima V.

(2) Ċertifikat taħt dan l-artikolu għandu jkollu fih dikjarazzjoni

mill-Prim Ministru bir-raġunijiet għall-opinjoni tiegħu, minbarra

meta dan jinvolvi l-iżvelar ta’ materja li hi materjal eżentat skont

it-termini tad-dispożizzjonijiet tat-Taqsima V.

(3) Meta l-Prim Ministru joħroġ ċertifikat taħt dan l-artikolu,

hu għandu fl-iqsar żmien prattikabbli jqiegħed kopja tiegħu

quddiem il-Kamra tad-Deputati.

(4) Meta l-Kummissarju jirċievi ċertifikat taħt dan l-artikolu

fir-rigward ta’ avviż ta’ deċiżjoni, hu għandu jinforma lill-

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

applikant b’dan.

(1) Meta awtorità pubblika jew uffiċjal ta’ tali awtorità

jirrifjuta jew, mingħajr raġuni valida, jonqos milli jikkonforma

ma’ -

(a) avviż ta’ deċiżjoni, safejn dan jitlob li jittieħdu passi;

(b) avviż ta’ informazzjoni; jew

(ċ) avviż ta’ infurzar,

dan għandu jitqies bħala reat skont it-termini tal-artikolu 22(b) tal--

Att dwar il-Protezzjoni u l-Privatezza tad-Data, u l-Kummissarju

jista’ wkoll jimponi multa amministrattiva kontra l-awtorità jew l-

uffiċjal tagħha kif ipprovdut mill-artikolu 42(3) tal-Att dwar il-

Protezzjoni u l-Privatezza tad-Data.

(2) Meta awtorità pubblika tonqos milli tikkonforma ma’ avviż

ta’ informazzjoni, jew meta l-Kummissarju jemmen li reat skont it-

termini tal-artikolu 43 ikun qed jiġi, jew ikun wasal biex jiġi,

kommess, il-Kummissarju jista’ jaġixxi biex jiżgura konformità

mal-avviż, jew biex ma jħallix li r-reat ikun kommess, billi juża s-

setgħat ta’ dħul u tiftix vestiti fil-Kummissarju taħt l-artikolu 16(1)

tal-Att dwar il-Protezzjoni u l-Privatezza tad-Data, li għandu jkun

applikabbli għal dan il-fini.

(3) Għall-finijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu, awtorità pubblika li, sabiex

turi li qed tikkonforma ma’ avviż ta’ informazzjoni -

(a) tagħmel dikjarazzjoni li taf li hija falza f’aspett

materjali; jew

(b) tagħmel bl-addoċċ dikjarazzjoni li hija falza f’aspett

materjali,

għandha titqies li naqset milli tikkonforma mal-avviż.

(1) Dan l-Att ma jagħti ebda dritt ta’ azzjoni ċivili fir-

rigward ta’ xi nuqqas ta’ konformità ma’ xi dmir impost minn jew

taħt dan l-Att.

(2) Is-subartikolu (1) m’għandux

jolqot

is-setgħat

tal-

Kummissarju taħt l-artikolu 27.

TAQSIMA V

RAĠUNIJIET KONKLUŻIVI BIEX DOKUMENTI UFFIĊJALI

MA JKUNUX ŻVELATI TAĦT DAN L-ATT

(1) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu

taħt dan l-Att

(a) jikkaġuna, jew jista’ raġonevolment ikun mistenni li

jikkaġuna, ħsara lis-sigurtà, id-difiża jew ir-

relazzjonijiet internazzjonali ta’ Malta; jew

(b) jikxef xi informazzjoni jew materja komunikata

b’konfidenzjalità minn jew f’isem gvern barrani,

awtorità ta’ gvern barrani, jew organizzazzjoni

internazzjonali lill-Gvern ta’ Malta jew lil awtorità

pubblika oħra, jew mill-Gvern ta’ Malta jew minn

awtorità pubblika lil gvern barrani, awtorità tiegħu,

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

jew organizzazzjoni internazzjonali.

(2) Bla ħsara għas-subartikolu (3), dokument hu dokument

eżentat jekk hu

(a) dokument li kien sottomess lill-Kabinett għall-

konsiderazzjoni tiegħu jew hu propost minn Ministru

biex ikun sottomess b’dan il-mod, billi hu dokument li

nħoloq għall-iskop ta’ sottomissjoni lill-Kabinett;

(b) record uffiċjali tal-Kabinett;

(ċ) dokument li hu kopja ta’ dokument imsemmi fil-

paragrafu (a) jew (b), jew kopja ta’ parti minn

dokument bħal dan, jew fih xi silta minnu; jew

(d) dokument li l-iżvelar tiegħu jkun jinvolvi l-iżvelar ta’

xi deliberazzjoni jew deċiżjoni tal-Kabinett, minbarra

dokument li bih deċiżjoni tal-Kabinett kienet

ippubblikata

Iżda kull sena, il-Prim Ministru jista’ jordna li ċerti

dokumenti tal-Kabinett, li jkunu dokumenti magħżulin minn fost

dawk li għandhom tletin sena jew aktar, għandhom ikunu suġġetti

għall-iżvelar, u dan is-subartikolu ma jibqax japplika għal dawn id-

dokumenti.

(3) Is-subartikolu (2) m’għandux japplika għal dokument jekk,

u safejn, ikun fih informazzjoni fattwali li għandha x’taqsam ma’

deċiżjoni tal-Kabinett li ġiet ippubblikata.

(4) Fis-subartikoli (2) u (3) "Kabinett" tinkludi Kumitati tal-

(1) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu

taħt dan l-Att jasal biex, jew jista’ raġonevolment ikun mistenni li

(a) jippreġudika t-tmexxija ta’ investigazzjoni ta’ ksur,

jew possibiltà ta’ ksur, tal-liġi, jew nuqqas, jew

possibiltà ta’ nuqqas, ta’ konformità ma’ liġi li

għandha x’taqsam ma’ tassazzjoni, jew jippreġudika l-

infurzar jew l-amministrazzjoni xierqa tal-liġi

f’ċirkostanza partikolari;

(b) jiżvela l-eżistenza jew l-identità, jew jippermetti li

persuna tiskopri l-eżistenza jew l-identità, ta’ sors

konfidenzjali ta’ informazzjoni, jew in-nuqqas ta’

eżistenza ta’ sors konfidenzjali ta’ informazzjoni, fir-

rigward tal-infurzar jew l-amministrazzjoni tal-liġi;

jew

(ċ) jqiegħed fil-periklu l-ħajja jew is-sigurtà fiżika ta’ xi

persuna.

(2) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu taħt

dan l-Att jasal biex, jew jista’ raġonevolment ikun mistenni li

(a) jippreġudika l-proċess ġust ta’ persuna jew il-ġudizzju

imparzjali ta’ każ partikolari minn xi qorti, tribunal,

bord ta’ dixxiplina, panel ta’ arbitraġġ jew korp simili,

jew jippreġudika inkjesta mmexxija taħt l-Att dwar l-

Inkjesti;

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

(b) jippreġudika l-effettività ta’ metodi jew proċeduri

legali għall-prevenzjoni, kxif, investigazzjoni, jew

trattament ta’ materji li jirriżultaw minn ksur jew

evażjoni tal-liġi permezz tal-iżvelar tiegħu; jew

(ċ) jippreġudika l-manteniment jew infurzar ta’ metodi

legali għall-ħarsien tas-sigurtà pubblika.

(3) Għall-finijiet tas-subartikolu (1)(b), persuna għandha

titqies li hija sors konfidenzjali ta’ informazzjoni fir-rigward tal-

infurzar jew l-amministrazzjoni tal-liġi jekk il-persuna qed tirċievi,

jew irċeviet, protezzjoni mill-Pulizija jew minn awtoritajiet

pubbliċi oħrajn bħala

(a) xhud; jew

(b) persuna li, minħabba r-relazzjoni jew l-assoċjazzjoni

tagħha ma’ xhud, jeħtiġilha jew tista’ teħtiġilha din il-

protezzjoni; jew

(ċ) kull persuna oħra li, għal xi raġuni, jeħtiġilha jew

tista’ teħtiġilha din il-protezzjoni.

(1) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk hu ta’ natura tali

li jkun privileġġjat milli jittella’ fi proċeduri legali għal raġuni ta’

privileġġ professjonali legali.

(2) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu taħt

dan l-Att jagħti lok għal azzjoni minn persuna (minbarra awtorità

pubblika) għal ksur ta’ konfidenzjalità.

(3) Is-subartikolu (2) m’għandux japplika għal working

documents interni mħejjijin minn membru, uffiċjal jew impjegat

tal-Gvern jew ta’ xi awtorità pubblika oħra fil-kors ta’ dmirijietu

sakemm l-iżvelar ma jikkostitwixxix ksur ta’ konfidenzjalità

dovuta lil persuna jew korp minbarra membru, uffiċjal jew

impjegat tal-Gvern jew ta’ xi awtorità pubblika oħra kif intqal

hawn fuq.

(1) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu

taħt dan l-Att jiżvela

(a) sigrieti kummerċjali;

(b) kull informazzjoni oħra li għandha valur kummerċjali

li jinqered jew jitnaqqas, jew jista’ raġonevolment

ikun mistenni li jinqered jew jitnaqqas, jekk l-

informazzjoni tkun żvelata; jew

(ċ) informazzjoni (minbarra sigrieti jew informazzjoni

kummerċjali li għaliha japplika l-paragrafu (b)) dwar

persuna fir-rigward tal-affarijiet tan-negozju jew

personali tiegħu jew dwar l-affarijiet tan-negozju,

kummerċjali jew finanzjarji ta’ organizzazzjoni jew

intrapriża, billi tkun informazzjoni li

(i) l-iżvelar tagħha jolqot ħażin, jew raġonevolment

ikun mistenni li jolqot ħażin, b’mod mhux

raġonevoli lil dik il-persuna fir-rigward tan-

negozju jew affarijiet professjonali leġittimi

tagħha jew lil dik l-organizzazzjoni jew

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

intrapriża fir-rigward tal-affarijiet leġittimi tan-

negozju, kummerċjali jew finanzjarji tagħha;

jew

(ii) l-iżvelar tagħha taħt dan l-Att jista’ jkun

raġonevolment mistenni li jippreġudika l-

provvista futura ta’ informazzjoni lill-Gvern jew

lil awtorità pubblika oħra għall-finijiet tal-

amministrazzjoni ta’ liġi jew l-amministrazzjoni

ta’ materji amministrati mill-awtorità.

(2) Is-subartikolu (1) m’għandux japplika għal talba għal

aċċess għal dokument għar-raġuni waħdanija li d-dokument fih

informazzjoni fuq

(a) in-negozju jew l-affarijiet professjonali tal-applikant

innifsu;

(b) l-affarijiet ta’ negozju, kummerċjali jew finanzjarji ta’

intrapriża meta l-applikant hu l-proprjetarju tal-

intrapriża jew qed jaġixxi f’isem il-proprjetarju; jew

(ċ) l-affarijiet ta’ negozju, kummerċjali jew finanzjarji ta’

organizzazzjoni meta l-applikant qed jaġixxi f’isimha.

(3) Is-subartikolu

(1)(ċ)

m’għandux

japplika

għal

informazzjoni li għandha x’taqsam biss mal-istatus ta’ persuna

bħala membru ta’ professjoni.

(4) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu taħt

dan l-Att imur kontra l-interess pubbliku għar-raġuni li hu

(a) jkollu, jew raġonevolment ikun mistenni li jkollu,

effett ħażin sostanzjali fuq il-ħila tal-Gvern li

jimmaniġġja l-ekonomija Maltija; jew

(b) jista’ jkun raġonevolment mistenni li jirriżulta fi

tfixkil mhux floku tal-kors ordinarju tan-negozju fil-

komunità, jew f’benefiċċju jew detriment mhux

flokhom lil xi persuna jew komunità, jew f’benefiċċju

jew detriment mhux flokhom lil xi persuna jew klassi

ta’ persuna, għar-raġuni li jagħtu għarfien prematur

jew ikunu jittrattaw dwar azzjoni jew nuqqas ta’

azzjoni proposti jew possibbli tal-Gvern jew tal-

Parlament.

(5) Ix-xorta ta’ dokumenti li s-subartikolu (4) jista’ japplika

għalihom jinkludu, iżda m’humiex limitati għal, dokumenti li

fihom materja li għandha x’taqsam ma’

(a)

il-munita jew rati tal-kambju;

(b)

rati tal-imgħax;

taxxi, inklużi dazji tad-dwana jew tas-sisa;

(d)

ir-regolamentazzjoni jew is-sorveljanza ta’ banek,

istituzzjonijiet tal-assigurazzjoni, u istituzzjonijiet

finanzjarji oħrajn;

(e) l-istabilità tas-sistema finanzjarja;

(f) proposti għal infiq;

(g) investiment barrani f’Malta; jew

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

(h) self mill-Gvern jew awtoritajiet pubbliċi oħrajn.

(6) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk hu fil-pussess ta’

membru tal-istaff akkademiku tal-Università ta’ Malta u fih

informazzjoni li għandha x’taqsam ma’ riċerka li kienet jew

qiegħda ssir minn dak il-membru, sakemm ir-riċerka m’hix

kummissjonata minn awtorità pubblika.

(7)

Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk

(a) fih informazzjoni li għandha x’taqsam ma’ riċerka

xjentifika jew akkademika li qed issir, jew se ssir,

minn membru tal-istaff ta’ awtorità pubblika, minbarra

riċerka li għaliha japplika s-subartikolu (6); u

(b) żvelar ta’ informazzjoni qabel it-tlestija tar-riċerka

x’aktarx li jiżvantaġġja b’mod mhux raġonevoli lill-

awtorità pubblika jew lill-membru tal-istaff.

(8) Is-subartikolu (7) m’għandux japplika għal dokument li,

safejn fih informazzjoni li għandha x’taqsam ma’ riċerka, fiha biss

informazzjoni li għandha x’taqsam ma’ riċerka li tlestiet kollha.

(9) Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk fih informazzjoni li

għandha x’taqsam ma’ riċerka dwar affarijiet ta’ sigurtà u difiża, u

awtorità pubblika għamlet dik ir-riċerka jew talbet biex issir, jew

kienet involuta fir-riċerka jew fit-talba biex issir.

Dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk, apparti minn dan l-

Att u minn kull immunità tal-Gvern, l-iżvelar pubbliku tad-

dokument

(a) jikkostitwixxi disprezz tal-qorti;

(b) imur kontra xi ordni magħmula jew direzzjoni

mogħtija minn xi Bord li għalih japplika l-Att dwar l-

Inkjest, jew minn xi tribunal jew persuna oħra li

għandha s-setgħa li tiġbor xhieda ġuramentata; jew

(ċ) jikser il-privileġġi tal-Parlament.

Meta -

(a) talba taħt dan l-Att għandha x’taqsam ma’ dokument li

għalih japplikaw id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ din it-

Taqsima, jew kienu japplikaw kieku tali dokument

kien jeżisti; u

(b) l-eżistenza jew nuqqas ta’ eżistenza tad-dokument

tista’ tkun minnha nnifisha, jekk tingħad f’dokument,

suġġetta għal nuqqas ta’ żvelar skont it-termini ta’ xi

waħda mid-dispożizzjonijiet imsemmija,

l-awtorità pubblika li tittratta t-talba tista’ tagħti avviż bil-miktub

lill-applikant li hi la tikkonferma u lanqas tiċħad l-eżistenza jew

nuqqas ta’ eżistenza ta’ dak id-dokument.

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

TAQSIMA VI

RAĠUNIJIET OĦRAJN BIEX MA TINGĦATAX

INFORMAZZJONI UFFIĊJALI

(1) Din it-Taqsima għandha tapplika bla ħsara għad-

dispożizzjonijiet tat-Taqsima V.

(2) Dokument jista’ ma jingħatax skont id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’

din it-Taqsima biss jekk ikun fih materja li fir-rigward tagħha l-

interess pubbliku li jinqeda bin-nuqqas ta’ żvelar m’għandux piż

aktar mill-interess pubbliku li jinqeda jekk id-dokument ikun

żvelat.

(1) Bla ħsara għall-artikolu 35 u għas-subartikoli (2) u (3)

ta’ dan l-artikolu, dokument hu dokument eżentat jekk l-iżvelar

tiegħu taħt dan l-Att jiżvela materja li għandha n-natura ta’, jew li

għandha x’taqsam ma’, opinjonijiet, pariri jew rakkomandazzjoni-

jiet miksubin, imħejjijin jew reġistrati, jew ma’ konsultazzjoni jew

deliberazzjoni li jkunu saru, fil-kors tal-proċessi deliberattivi

involuti fil-funzjonijiet tal-Gvern jew awtorità pubblika oħra, jew

għall-finijiet ta’ dawk il-proċessi.

(2) Is-subartikolu (1) m’għandux japplika għal dokument għar-

raġuni waħdanija ta’ informazzjoni purament fattwali li tkun fid-

dokument.

(3)

Is-subartikolu (1) m’għandux japplika għal

(a) rapporti (inklużi rapporti dwar ir-riżultati ta’ studji,

stħarriġ jew testijiet) ta’ esperti xjentifiċi jew tekniċi,

kemm jekk impjegati minn awtorità pubblika u kemm

jekk m’humiex, inklużi rapporti li jesprimu l-opinjoni

ta’ dawn l-esperti fuq materji xjentifiċi jew tekniċi;

jew

(b) ir-reġistrazzjoni jew id-dikjarazzjoni finali tar-

raġunijiet għal deċiżjoni finali mogħtija fl-eżerċizzju

tas-setgħa jew ta’ funzjoni aġġudikativa.

(4) Fis-subartikolu (3) it-terminu "espert xjentifiku jew

tekniku" għandu jinftiehem li jeskludi managers anzjani

f’awtoritajiet pubbliċi.

Bla ħsara għall-artikolu 35, dokument hu dokument eżentat

jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu taħt dan l-Att ikollu effett ħażin sostanzjali fuq

l-interessi finanzarji jew ta’ proprjetà tal-Gvern jew ta’ awtorità

pubblika oħra.

Bla ħsara għall-artikolu 35, dokument hu dokument eżentat

jekk l-iżvelar tiegħu taħt dan l-Att iwassal biex, jew jista’

raġonevolment ikun mistenni li

(a) jippreġudika l-effettività ta’ proċeduri jew metodi

għat-tmexxija ta’ testijiet, eżamijiet jew proċessi ta’

awditjar minn awtorità pubblika;

(b) jippreġudika l-ilħiq tal-objettivi ta’ testijiet, eżamijiet

jew proċessi ta’ awditjar partikolari mmexxijin jew li

jkunu se jitmexxew minn awtorità pubblika;

LIBERTÀ TAL-INFORMAZZJONI

(ċ) jkollu effett ħażin sostanzjali fuq it-tmexxija xierqa u

effiċjenti tal-operazzjonijiet ta’ awtorità pubblika; jew

(d) jkollu effett ħażin sostanzjali fuq it-tmexxija ta’

negozjati (inklużi negozjati kummerċjali u industrijali)

mill-Gvern jew awtorità pubblika oħra jew f’isimha.

TAQSIMA VII

DISPOSIZZJONIJIET SUPPLEMENTARI

(3) An enforcement notice shall not require any of the

provisions of the notice to be complied with before the end of the

period within which an appeal can be brought against the notice

and, if such an appeal is brought, the notice need not be complied

with pending the determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

(4) The Commissioner may cancel an enforcement notice by

written notice to the public authority on which it was served.

(5)

This article shall have effect subject to article 26.

26. (1) A decision or enforcement notice issued by the

Commissioner in respect of the disclosure of a document shall not

have effect if the Prime Minister certifies to the Commissioner that,

in his opinion, the document is an exempt document in terms of any

of the provisions of Part V.

(2) A certificate under this article shall contain a statement by

the Prime Minister of the reasons for his opinion, except in so far

as this would involve the disclosure of matter that is exempt matter

in terms of the provisions of Part V.

(3) Where the Prime Minister issues a certificate under this

article, he shall as soon as practicable thereafter lay a copy of it

before the House of Representatives.

(4) Where the Commissioner receives a certificate under this

article in respect of a decision notice, he shall inform the applicant

accordingly.

27. (1) Where a public authority or an officer of such an

authority refuses or, without a good reason, fails to comply with -

(a) so much of a decision notice as requires steps to be

taken;

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(b) an information notice; or

(c) an enforcement notice,

this shall be regarded as an offence in terms of article 22 (b) of the

Data Protection Act, and the Commissioner may also levy an

administrative fine against the defaulting authority or officer

thereof as provided for by article 42(3) of the Data Protection Act.

(2) Where a public authority fails to comply with an

information notice, or where the Commissioner believes that an

offence in terms of article 43 is being or is about to be committed,

the Commissioner may act to secure compliance with the notice or

to prevent the offence from being committed using the powers of

entry and search vested in the Commissioner under article 16(1) of

the Data Protection Act, which shall be applicable for this purpose.

(3) For the purposes of this article, a public authority which, in

purported compliance with an information notice -

(a) makes a statement which it knows to be false in a

material respect; or

(b) recklessly makes a statement which is false in a

material respect,

shall be taken to have failed to comply with the notice.

28. (1) This Act does not confer any right of action in civil

proceedings in respect of any failure to comply with any duty

imposed by or under this Act.

(2) Subarticle (1) shall not affect the powers of the

Commissioner under article 27.

PART V

CONCLUSIVE REASONS FOR NOT DISCLOSING OFFICIAL

DOCUMENTS UNDER THIS ACT

29. (1) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure

under this Act

(a) would, or could reasonably be expected to, cause

damage to the security, the defence, or the

international relations of Malta; or

(b) would

divulge

any

information

or

matter

communicated in confidence by or on behalf of a

foreign government, an authority of a foreign

government, or an international organisation to the

Government of Malta or to another public authority, or

by the Government of Malta or another public

authority to a foreign government, an authority

thereof, or an international organisation.

(2) Subject to subarticle (3), a document is an exempt

document if it is

(a) a document that has been submitted to the Cabinet for

its consideration or is proposed by a Minister to be so

submitted, being a document that was brought into

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

existence for the purpose of submission to the Cabinet;

(b) an official record of the Cabinet;

(c) a document that is a copy of all or part of, or contains

an extract from, a document referred to in paragraph

(a) or (b); or

(d) a document the disclosure of which would involve the

disclosure of any deliberation or decision of the

Cabinet, other than a document by which a decision of

the Cabinet was published

Provided that each year, the Prime Minister may direct that

certain Cabinet documents, being documents selected from among

those that are thirty years old or more, shall be subject to

disclosure, whereupon this subarticle shall not apply to such

documents.

(3) Subarticle (2) shall not apply to a document if, and in so far

as, it contains factual information relating to a decision of the

Cabinet that has been published.

(4) In subarticles (2) and (3) "Cabinet" includes Cabinet

Committees.

30. (1) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure

under this Act would, or could reasonably be expected to

(a) prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach,

or possible breach, of the law, or a failure, or possible

failure, to comply with a law relating to taxation or

prejudice the enforcement or proper administration of

the law in a particular instance;

(b) disclose, or enable a person to ascertain, the existence

or identity of a confidential source of information, or

the non-existence of a confidential source of

information, in relation to the enforcement or

administration of the law; or

(c) endanger the life or physical safety of any person.

(2) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under

this Act would, or could reasonably be expected to

(a) prejudice the fair trial of a person or the impartial

adjudication of a particular case by any court, tribunal,

disciplinary board, arbitration panel or similar body, or

prejudice an inquiry conducted under the Inquiries

Act;

(b) prejudice the effectiveness of lawful methods or

procedures for preventing, detecting, investigating, or

dealing with matters arising out of breaches or

evasions of the law through the disclosure thereof; or

(c) prejudice the maintenance or enforcement of lawful

methods for the protection of public safety.

(3) For the purposes of subarticle (1)(b), a person shall be

taken to be a confidential source of information in relation to the

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

enforcement or administration of the law if the person is receiving,

or has received, protection by the Police or other public authorities

as

(a) a witness; or

(b) a person who, because of his relationship to or

association with a witness, needs or may need such

protection; or

(c) any other person who, for any reason, needs or may

need such protection.

31. (1) A document is an exempt document if it is of such a

nature that it would be privileged from production in legal

proceedings on the ground of legal professional privilege.

(2) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under

this Act would found an action by a person (other than a public

authority) for breach of confidence.

(3) Subarticle (2) shall not apply to internal working

documents prepared by a member, officer or employee of the

Government or any other public authority in the course of his

duties unless the disclosure would constitute a breach of

confidence owed to a person or body other than a member, officer

or employee of the Government or any other public authority as

aforesaid.

32. (1) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure

under this Act would disclose

(a) trade secrets;

(b) any other information having a commercial value that

would be, or could reasonably be expected to be,

destroyed or diminished if the information were

disclosed; or

(c) information (other than trade secrets or information to

which paragraph (b) applies) concerning a person in

respect of his business or professional affairs or

concerning the business, commercial or financial

affairs of an organisation or undertaking, being

information

(i) the disclosure of which would, or could

reasonably be expected to, unreasonably affect

that person adversely in respect of his lawful

business or professional affairs or that

organisation or undertaking in respect of its

lawful business, commercial or financial affairs;

or

(ii) the disclosure of which under this Act could

reasonably be expected to prejudice the future

supply of information to the Government or to

another public authority for the purpose of the

administration of a law or the administration of

matters administered by the authority.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

(2) Subarticle (1) shall not apply to a request for access to a

document by reason only that the document contains information

(a) the applicant’s own business or professional affairs;

(b) the business, commercial or financial affairs of an

undertaking where the applicant is the proprietor of

the undertaking or is acting on behalf of the proprietor;

or

(c) the business, commercial or financial affairs of an

organisation where the applicant is acting on its

behalf.

(3) Subarticle (1)(c) shall not apply to information solely

concerning a person’s status as a member of a profession.

(4) A document is an exempt document if its disclosure under

this Act would be contrary to the public interest by reason that it

(a) would, or could reasonably be expected to, have a

substantial adverse effect on the ability of the

Government to manage the Maltese economy; or

(b) could reasonably be expected to result in an undue

disturbance of the ordinary course of business in the

community, or an undue benefit or detriment to any

person or community, or an undue benefit or detriment

to any person or class of persons, by reason of giving

premature knowledge of or concerning proposed or

possible action or inaction of the Government or

Parliament.

(5) The kinds of documents to which subarticle (4) may apply

include, but are not limited to, documents containing matter

relating to

(a)

currency or exchange rates;

(b)

interest rates;

(c)

taxes, including duties of customs or of excise;

(d)

the regulation or supervision of banking, insurance

and other financial institutions;

(e) the stability of the financial system;

(f) proposals for expenditure;

(g) foreign investment in Malta; or

(h) borrowings by the Government or other public

authorities.

(6) A document is an exempt document if it is in the possession

of a member of the academic staff of the University of Malta and

contains information relating to research that has been or is being

undertaken by such a member, unless the research has been

commissioned by a public authority.

(7)

A document is an exempt document if

(a) it contains information relating to scientific or

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

academic research that is being, or is to be, undertaken

by a member of staff of a public authority, other than

research to which subarticle (6) applies; and

(b) disclosure of the information before the completion of

the research would be likely unreasonably to expose

the public authority or the member of staff to

disadvantage.

(8) Subarticle (7) shall not apply to a document that, in so far

as it contains information relating to research, only contains

information relating to research that has been completed.

(9) A document is an exempt document if it contains

information relating to research on security and defence matters

which has been undertaken or commissioned by, or with the

involvement of, a public authority.

33. A document is an exempt document if public disclosure of

the document would, apart from this Act and any immunity of the

Government

(a) be in contempt of court;

(b) be contrary to an order made or direction given by any

Board to which the Inquiries Act applies, or by any

tribunal or other person having power to take evidence

on oath; or

(c) infringe the privileges of Parliament.

34. Where -

(a) a request under this Act relates to a document to which

the provisions of this Part apply, or would apply if

such a document existed; and

(b) the existence or non-existence of the document would

in its own right, if it were stated in a document, be

subject to non-disclosure in terms of any of the said

provisions,

the public authority dealing with the request may give notice in

writing to the applicant that it neither confirms nor denies the

existence or non-existence of that document.

PART VI

OTHER REASONS FOR WITHHOLDING

OFFICIAL INFORMATION

35. (1) This Part shall apply subject to the provisions of Part

V.

(2) A document may be withheld in accordance with the

provisions of this Part only if it contains matter in relation to which

the public interest that is served by non-disclosure outweighs the

public interest in disclosure.

36. (1) Subject to article 35 and to subarticles (2) and (3)

hereof, a document is an exempt document if its disclosure under

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

this Act would disclose matter in the nature of, or relating to,

opinions, advice or recommendations obtained, prepared or

recorded, or consultation or deliberation that has taken place, in the

course of, or for the purposes of, the deliberative processes

involved in the functions of the Government or another public

authority.

(2) Subarticle (1) shall not apply to a document by reason only

of purely factual information contained in the document.

(3)

Subarticle (1) shall not apply to

(a) reports (including reports concerning the results of

studies, surveys or tests) of scientific or technical

experts, whether employed by a public authority or

not, including reports expressing the opinions of such

experts on scientific or technical matters; or

(b) the record of, or a final statement of the reasons for, a

final decision given in the exercise of a power or of an

adjudicative function.

(4) In subarticle (3) the term "scientific or technical expert"

s h a l l be c o n s t r u e d a s e x c l u d i n g se n i o r m a n a g e r s i n p u b l i c

authorities.

37. Subject to article 35, a document is an exempt document if

its disclosure under this Act would have a substantial adverse effect

on the financial or property interests of the Government or of

another public authority.

38. Subject to article 35, a document is an exempt document if

its disclosure under this Act would, or could reasonably be

expected to

(a) prejudice the effectiveness of procedures or methods

for the conduct of tests, examinations or audits by a

public authority;

(b) prejudice the attainment of the objects of particular

tests, examinations or audits conducted or to be

conducted by a public authority;

(c) have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and

efficient conduct of the operations of a public

authority; or

(d) have a substantial adverse effect on the conduct of

negotiations (including commercial and industrial

negotiations) by or on behalf of the Government or

another public authority.

PART VII

FURTHER PROVISIONS

39. (1) Where a decision notice has been served, the applicant

or the public authority may appeal to the Tribunal against the

notice within twenty working days.

(2)

A public authority on which an information notice or an

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

enforcement notice has been served by the Commissioner may

appeal to the Tribunal against the notice.

(3)

If, on an appeal under this article, the Tribunal considers -

(a) that the notice against which the appeal is brought is

not in accordance with the law; or

(b) to the extent that the notice involved an exercise of

discretion by the Commissioner, that he ought to have

exercised his discretion differently,

the Tribunal shall allow the appeal or substitute such other notice

as could have been served by the Commissioner; and in any other

case the Tribunal shall dismiss the appeal.

(4) Where the Tribunal substitutes a notice as aforesaid, the

Commissioner shall take action under article 27 to secure

compliance as if that notice had been issued by the Commissioner.

(5) In hearing appeals under this article the Tribunal shall

remain subject to the following provisions of the Data Protection

Act

(a) article 28(2); and

(b) article 27(2), (4) and (5).

Decisions of the Tribunal under this Act shall be subject to

appeal to the Court of Appeal as provided for by article 29 of the

Data Protection Act.

(1) The Minister shall issue a code of practice providing

guidance to public authorities as to the practice which it would, in

his opinion, be desirable for them to follow in connection with the

discharge of public authorities’ functions under Part II and Part III.

(2) The code of practice shall, in particular, include provisions

relating to

(a) the provision of advice and assistance by public

authorities to persons who propose to make, or have

made, requests for information to them;

(b) the transfer of requests by one public authority to

another public authority which holds, or may hold, the

documents requested;

(c) consultation with persons to whom the information

requested relates or persons whose interests are likely

to be affected by the disclosure of information;

(d) the inclusion in contracts entered into by public

authorities of terms relating to the disclosure of

information;

(e) the provision by public authorities of rapid procedures

for dealing with complaints about the handling by

them of requests for information; and

(f) the keeping of documents and records by public

authorities in such a manner as to facilitate the

identification and retrieval of documents for the

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

purposes of this Act.

(3) The code may make different provision for different public

authorities.

(4) Before issuing or revising any code under this article, the

Minister shall consult the Commissioner and the Principal

Permanent Secretary.

The Minister may, following consultation with the

Commissioner, make regulations for any or all of the following

(a) to prescribe application forms (manual or electronic)

and other documents required for the purposes of this

Act, or authorising any person to prescribe or approve

such forms or documents

Provided that forms cannot place requirements on

applicants additional to those set out by this Act, and

that an application meeting all such requirements shall

still be considered if it is made otherwise than using

the prescribed form;

(b) to establish the procedure for the service of notices

and documents by public authorities under this Act;

(c) to prescribe reasonable charges or scales of reasonable

charges for the purposes of this Act; and

(d) to provide for such matters as are contemplated by or

necessary for giving full effect to this Act and for its

due administration.

Article 144 of the Criminal Code shall apply to any person

who embezzles, destroys, mutilates or purloins a document with the

intention of preventing the disclosure of information to an

applicant under this Act.