Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If any other member wishes to speak, I will allow him or her to do so presently. I have a few questions for the delegates, whom I thank for their presentation. First, however, I wish to clarify a matter for the public record. We are often accused of being a little mischievous in who we call in, the idea being that we want to get headlines in the newspapers. That is not the case. The request to the delegates to appear before the committee was issued to them last July, well before the events of later in the summer. Issues relating to the public services card were raised at previous meetings of the committee, which led to my request for a meeting with the delegates. One of those issues concerned the large social media companies registered in Ireland within an EU context, and the role of the Irish Data Protection Commission, not just in an Irish and European context but also in a worldwide context. It is a relatively small office which has been getting larger as the years go by. As such, my concern is whether there is the scope, ability and resources within the organisation to deal with its new responsibilities. That was my motivation as Chairman in inviting the delegates to appear before the committee. Other issues have arisen in the meantime, and I understand why they have taken up most of our discussion time. That discussion has been useful in giving us a good insight into the commission's growing role and importance.

Will Ms Dixon indicate who collects the fines that are issued by the commission and were issued by its predecessor, and where those moneys go?