First Minister and Leader of Sinn Fein meeting documentation: FOI release

Information requested

All documentation related to the meeting between the First Minister and the Leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald TD, in Dublin on 26 November 2025, including copies of all the briefing material provided to the First Minister in preparation for the meeting.

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemption(s) under section(s) s.30(b)(i)(free and frank provision of advice) and s.38(1)(b) (personal information) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemption(s) apply are explained below.

30(b)(i) (free and frank provision of advice)

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release to support the transparency and accountability of government, and to inform public debate. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in allowing a private space within which officials can provide candid advice to Ministers. It would not be in the public interest to disclose such information that could inhibit future comprehensiveness.

s.38(1)(b) (personal information relating to third party)

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, i.e. names and contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

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The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202500498329 - Information released - Documents

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PDF

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719.6 kB