The Office of Information Commissioner was established in 1997 by the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The primary role of the Commissioner is to review FOI decisions where the requester has exercised the right to an Internal Review and, where settlement is not reached, to issue a binding decision which is open to appeal to the Higher Courts on a point of law. Additionally, the Information Commissioner promotes the operation of the FOI Act and, from time to time, publishes commentaries on the operation of the FOI Act. Bumaíodh Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise i 1997 de bharr Achta um Shaoráil Faisnéise (SF). Is é príomhfheidhm an Choimisinéara Faisnéise gníomhú mar bhealach achomhairc i gcoinne cinntí Shaoráil Faisnéise, taréis don iarraitheoir a cheart dáchomhairc inmheánach don chinneadh a fháil, agus, i gcás nach ndeintear socrú, cinneadh ceangailte a eisiú. Is féidir dáon páirtí a bhfuil baint acu le cinneadh an Choimisinéara achomharc ag na na Cúírtí Uachtarach a lorg ar phoinnte dlí amháin. Comh maith le sin, cuireann an Coimisinéir an Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise chun cinn agus, ó am go h-am, foilsíonn sí tráchtaireacht ar feidhmeannacht an Achta.