You asked
Please provide the comments and questions that were made during a question and answer session hosted on Wednesday 24th June 2020.
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we will be unable to release the information you have requested as the exemption found in s.36(2)(c) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 is engaged. S.36(2)(c) states that information is exempt if, in the reasonable opinion of a qualified person, the disclosure of information would, or would be likely to prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. It is vital for all organisations to encourage free, frank and open discussions between staff and senior leaders. If we were to release these comments, staff may be less inclined to participate in any engagement or feedback exercises and provide personally held or honest views in the future out of fear they may be published under FOI. This chilling effect would create a negative working environment and is not what is expected of an open government department that encourages the candidness of its staff.
The use of this exemption is subject to a public interest test. We believe that as the information contains only the thoughts and questions of individual members of staff there is no public benefit in its release. In favour of withholding the information are ensuring we have a safe and private space to facilitate candid and open discussions for all members of staff.