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Introduction

The CSO remains committed to the European Statistics Code of Practice. Principle 6 of the Code refers to Objectivity and Impartiality and includes the following indicator:

6.7 All users have equal access to statistical releases at the same time.  Any privileged pre-release access to any outside user is limited, controlled and publicised. In the event that leaks occur, pre-release arrangements are revised so as to ensure impartiality.

This policy gives effect to the principle of Objectivity and Impartiality as set out above. It specifies the CSO’s standard practice that statistics are released to all users at the same time, with no pre-release access. However the CSO recognises that in very limited circumstances a business need for pre-release access may be substantiated. Any form of pre-release access is a privilege.

Three forms of limited pre-release access are permitted under this policy and the detailed rules for each are set out below:

1. Advance Notification of Results to Named Officials
2. Official or Ministerial Briefings
3. Press Briefings.

Key features

• The CSO standard is the release of results at 11:00 am, with no pre-release access.
• The policy recognises that pre-release access may be justified in some cases. Accordingly, it sets out procedures for:

1. Advance Notification to Named Officials (at 10:00 am)
2. Officials Briefings (which can take place at 08:30 am)
3. Press Conferences (at 10:30 am).

• An application procedure is being introduced for advance notification and for attendance at officials briefings. The decision on whether to grant pre-release access or not is taken by the Director General of CSO.
• Named lists of those granted pre-release access will be published on the CSO website. Attendance lists at press conferences before release time will also be published.
• The policy specifies that pre-release access is a privilege granted by CSO; in the event of a breach, the privilege may be taken away.

To apply for Pre-Release Access please email dataoffice@cso.ie stating what release you would like access to and we will send you the the eQuestionnaire application.

 

Full Text on CSO Policy on Pre-Release Access

Introduction

The CSO remains committed to the European Statistics Code of Practice. Principle 6 of the Code refers to Objectivity and Impartiality and includes the following indicator:     

6.7 All users have equal access to statistical releases at the same time. Any privileged pre-release access to any outside user is limited, controlled and publicised. In the event that leaks occur, pre-release arrangements are revised so as to ensure impartiality.

This policy gives effect to the principle of Objectivity and Impartiality as set out above. It specifies the CSO’s standard practice that statistics are released to all users at the same time, with no pre-release access. However the CSO recognises that in very limited circumstances a business need for pre-release access may be substantiated. Any form of pre-release access is a privilege.

Three forms of limited pre-release access are permitted under this policy and the detailed rules for each are set out below:

1. Advance Notification of Results to Named Officials
2. Official or Ministerial Briefings
3. Press Briefings.

Advance Notification of Results to Named Officials

Where advance notification has been granted, this will normally be provided one hour before the official release time as specified on the CSO’s weekly release calendar.  At the discretion of the Director General, and in exceptional cases, advance notification may be provided at 14:30 pm on the day before a release.  In these exceptional cases, the CSO website will record that advance briefing of the named officials has taken place at 14:30 pm on the day prior to the release.

This category of access will only be granted through the formal application process and by means of the application form set out in the eQuestionnaire. The request for access must be approved at Assistant Secretary level in the applying Institution/Department.

The application for access will be subject to approval by the Director General of the CSO or an Assistant Director General / Director in the absence of the Director General. Access privileges will be reviewed and verified annually.

Only named individuals will be given advance notification of results and information provided will be restricted to those who have been approved for this access. The access is personal and non-transferable. 

No details of any data provided by CSO may be distributed or discussed in any way with persons who are not approved to receive pre-release access, prior to the release being officially published at 11:00 am.

A full list of named individuals with this privilege will be published on the CSO website.

Officials & Ministerial Briefings

Officials Briefings may take place on the day of the release. Where an Officials Briefing is organised, it will take place not earlier than 08.30 am on the day of the release.

Officials’ pre-release access will only be granted through the formal application process and by means of the application form set out in the eQuestionnaire. The request for access must be approved at Assistant Secretary level in the applying Institution/Department.

The application for access will be subject to approval by the Director General of the CSO or an Assistant Director General / Director in the absence of the Director General. Access privileges will be reviewed and verified annually.

Only individuals pre-approved for this access will be invited to the briefing. Access to the Officials Briefing will be strictly limited to invitees. Information provided during the briefing will be restricted to those who have been approved for this access and will be under embargo until the official release time. This access is personal and non-transferable.

The venue and invitation to Officials Briefings will be determined by the CSO.

No details of any data provided by CSO may be distributed or discussed in any way with persons who are not approved for pre-release privileges, prior to the release being officially published at 11:00 am.

In the event that individuals cannot attend the Officials Briefing, the provision of results at 10:00 am as described under Advance Notification of Results to Named Officials may be implemented.

A full list of named individuals attending the Officials Briefing will be published on the CSO website.

Press Briefings

Press briefings in advance of publication may take place. The standard time for press briefings will be 10.30 am on the day of the release.

An official sign-in process is required for all press briefings. A full list of individuals attending press briefings in advance of the publication time will be published on the CSO website.

A formal application process for attending Press Briefings is not required at this time. The CSO reserves the right to introduce such a process.

Terms and Conditions

Applications for pre-release access (i.e. for Advance Notification of Results to Named Officials or for attendance at Official or Ministerial Briefings) shall be made at least 10 working days in advance of the named release date.

Non-adherence to the terms and conditions on which pre-release access privilege is granted will result in access being revoked for individuals/organisations. Any apparent breach of the conditions will be investigated and, where appropriate, reported on the CSO website.

All advance results transmitted electronically under these arrangements will in general only be transmitted in encrypted form.

Pre-release access in general will be limited to three named persons in a single organisation.

This policy and the link to the eQuestionnaire will be published on the CSO website.

The administration of pre-release access will be carried out by the Data Office of the CSO.

The principal points of this policy are summarised in the table below.

This policy will take effect from 1 March 2016. (Updated July 2022)

 

Pádraig Dalton

Director General 

CSO Policy on Pre-Release Access: Principal Points
 Form of Pre-Release Access
 Advance Notification of Results to Named OfficialsOfficials or Ministerial BriefingPress Conferences
Apply for access? Yes Yes No
Attendance sheets? No Yes Yes
Access on the day of release? Yes Yes Yes
Access before day of release? No No No
Details of access published on CSO website? Yes Yes Yes
Access Transferable? No No No