Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 26 September 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner

9:00 am

Photo of Alan KellyAlan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome each and every one of the witnesses. Well done to them on their work to date. It is incredibly important in the times we live in. My questions concern three different areas. I have some questions about the PSC; some questions about finance and funding, which I have concerns about, scale being the big issue; and then some questions about aspects of the Data Protection Commission's work relating to its position as the lead supervisory authority in the EU and current cases that have impacts in many ways on the way in which we live.

Regarding the PSC, I thank Ms Dixon for the information in response to the previous speaker. Obviously, she has her own independent advice, etc. Does the nub of the issue come down to the interpretation of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005? We all remember back then getting those white public services or social welfare cards. I think I ended up with two by accident at one stage. It was a requirement under that legislation - and I ask the witnesses to tell me if I am wrong because I am not legally qualified - to produce the card but it was not mandatory for anyone to get one. Does the nub of the issue come down to how that legislation is interpreted versus our requirements under European law?

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.