Freedom of Information

The CRO is prescribed under the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Information about the CRO and the FOI Act are stated below under six different headings:

  • Information about the FOI Body
  • Services Provided or to be provided to the Public
  • Decision Making process for major policy proposals
  • Financial information
  • Procurement
  • FOI Disclosure log and other information to be published routinely.

 

Please note that where requests for information are received under the Act, there is a presumption of release unless specific exemptions apply. Even where specific exemptions may be deemed to apply, consideration must be given to whether it is in the public interest to release the records. Therefore, when submitting non-statutory submissions to the CRO it should be borne in mind that any records could potentially be released by the CRO.

Under the FOI Act anyone is entitled to apply for access to information not otherwise publicly available. Each person has a right to:

  • access to records held by the CRO;
  • correction of personal information relating to oneself held by the CRO where it is inaccurate or misleading;
  • access to reasons for decisions made by the CRO directly affecting oneself.

 

The following records come within the scope of the FOI Act:

  • all records relating to personal information held by the CRO irrespective of when created;
  • all other records created from commencement date i.e. 21 April 1998;
  • any other records necessary to the understanding of a current record.

 

The CRO will normally be obliged to respond to the request within four weeks.

Applications under the FOI Act should be addressed to:

Freedom of Information Officer
Companies Registration Office
Bloom House, Gloucester Place Lower, Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 804 5251
Email: info@cro.ie

Requests for information must be in writing and must indicate:

  • your full name and address;
  • that it is being made under the FOI Act;
  • a day-time telephone number, if possible, so that you may be contacted quickly if it is necessary to clarify details of your request
  • details of the information requested which must be as comprehensive and as specific as possible (if you have difficulty in identifying the precise records which you require, we will be happy to assist you in preparing your request);
  • if necessary, the particular format in which the information is requested e.g. photocopy, disc, etc.

Decision Making
Decisions on applications are made at a level not below Higher Executive Officer. Internal appeal decisions are made by officers of a higher grade.

Rights of Review and Appeal
The FOI Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or of third parties. Where the FOI officer in the CRO invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be the subject of appeal. Details of the appeals mechanisms are as follows:

Internal Review
You may seek internal review of the initial decision, which will be carried out by an officer at a higher level if:

  • you are dissatisfied with the initial response received i.e. refusal of information, form of access, charges, etc., or
  • you have not received a reply within four weeks of your initial application. This is deemed to be a refusal of your request and allows you to proceed to internal review.

Requests for internal review should be submitted in writing to:

Registrar
Companies Registration Office
Bloom House, Gloucester Place Lower, Dublin 1
Phone: 01 804 5260
E-mail: Maureen.OSullivan@enterprise.gov.ie

Such a request for internal review must be submitted within four weeks of the initial decision. The CRO must complete the review within three weeks. Internal review must normally be completed before an appeal may be made to the Information Commissioner.

Following completion of the internal review, you may seek an independent review of the decision from the Information Commissioner. Also, if you have not received a reply to your application for internal review within three weeks, this is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Information Commissioner.

Appeals in writing may be made directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner
6 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2, D02 W773

Telephone: 01-6395689      
E-mail: info@oic.ie 
Website: www.oic.ie

For further information and details on how to make an application for information under the Act, please view the CRO’s FOI Handbook.

A detailed list of our fees chargeable on documents, or for services rendered, which are outside the scope of the FOI Act, are set out in Appendix 1 of the FOI Handbook. Fees for information falling under the FOI Act may be charged in accordance with S.I. No. 531 of 2014 – Freedom of Information Act 2014 (Fees)(No. 2) Regulations 2014.

In the case of requests which relate to non-personal information there are charges are applied for search retrieval and copying. Section 27(2) FOI Act 2014 relates. Search and retrieval includes time spent in:

  • Determining whether it holds the information requested;
  • Locating the information or documents containing the information
  • Retrieving such information or documents
  • Extracting the information from the files, documents, electronic or other information sources containing both it and other material not relevant to the request, and
  • Preparing a schedule specifying the records for consideration for release.

 

Under the FOI Act 2014 Fees Regulations (No.2) 2014, there is a minimum threshold of €101 below which no search, retrieval and copying charges will be charged. Once the charge reaches the €101 full fees apply. There is a maximum amount that can be charged under the Regulations and it is set at €500. A further upper ceiling limit on an estimated search, retrieval and copying fees is set at €700, and with any figure above this, a body can refuse to process a request unless the requester is prepared to redefine the request to one below the limit.

There are also fees which apply for an internal review under Section 21, this is €30. The prescribed fee for appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner is €50.

  • The Office of the Registrar of Companies was established on 1st November 1844 following the commencement of the Joint Stock Companies Act 1844. The Companies Registration Office operates under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Please see the Functions of the CRO webpage for more information regarding the work of the Office.
  • Copies of the CRO Annual Report can be accessed from the Corporate Publications webpage.
  • The CRO comprises the following breakdown in staff numbers: 1 Principal Officer, 4 Assistant Principal Officers, 1 Legal Advisor, 1 Accountant, 10.7 Higher Executive Officers, 13.43 Executive Officers, 14.75 Staff Officers, 4 Service Officers and 60.3 Clerical Officers.
  • In order to view telephone/email address information regarding the CRO please visit the Contact Us webpage.
  • The CRO Customer Charter is also available.

  • The CRO maintains registers under the operation of the Companies Act 2014, The Registration of Business Names Act 1963, The Limited Partnerships Act 1907 and other sundry legislation. The legislation webpages provide links to the Irish Statute Book website.
  • The provision of information under the heading of Registration, Post Registration and Termination/restoration which deal with the life cycle of a company/ business name/limited partnership/external company.
  • Information relating to the services provided by the CRO is also published in the FOI Handbook 2019.   
  • Fees information can be accessed in relation to Companies, Business Names, Limited Partnerships and the Registry of Friendly Societies.

  • The CRO maintains registers under the Acts described above and is not involved in policy decisions. It also has no investigative powers.

  • Details of payments or purchase orders for goods and services of more than €20,000 are published on a quarterly basis on the Payments over €20,000 webpage.
  • Details regarding any current tender competitions on the eTenders website and any public contracts awarded are available on the Procurement webpage.

For further information regarding Freedom of Information, including the text of the Acts, please visit the government website

The Registrar reserves the right to amend or vary any information provided at any time.