RTÉ has lost an FOI case where it sought to withhold details of spending on wardrobe and clothing.
In refusing access to the information, the public service broadcaster said the material was exempt under a carve-out in the FOI Act that protects editorial decision-making.
They claimed decisions over clothing were “a strong visual indicator of tone and character” in their work.
RTÉ said wardrobe, including “potential style and colour choices for programmes, presenters, politicians etc” was an important part of the editorial planning of a programme.
In a decision, the Information Commissioner said that if RTÉ’s arguments over expenditure were correct, it “would be very difficult to identify any information relating to” their finances that was not exempt under the FOI Act.
The investigator wrote: “The records at issue are not concerned with such [editorial] processes. They are simply records of financial transactions in respect of wardrobe.”
RTÉ also tried to claim that some of the information was personal as it could identify individual members of staff for whom clothing was bought.
The Information Commissioner also rejected that argument.
“It seems to me that the purchase of particular items is essentially linked to the particular programme or the role of the correspondent and is not concerned with the personal circumstances of any individuals,” the decision said.
“I certainly do not accept that details of amounts paid by RTÉ on unspecified wardrobe items comprises information relating to the employment or employment history of the individuals who may use those items.”