Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 7 November 2019

Public Accounts Committee

2018 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Chapter 12 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 13 - Timeliness of Income Support Claim Processing
Chapter 14 - Customer Service - Development of Income Support Application Forms

9:00 am

Mr. John McKeon:

That is not the case. If we were not complying with an enforcement notice that was subsequently confirmed by the court following an appeal, we would then be in breach of the law. As matters stand, we have a determination from the Data Protection Commissioner. We take our advice from the Attorney General, who has indicated that the finding is flawed and does not stand up to scrutiny. We operate on the basis of that advice, as we have to do.

That is standard across Government. It is not unusual for the Government to challenge the decisions of regulatory bodies. It is not unusual at all-----

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