Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I wish to echo the comments of the Chair. This is a very important issue. As has been said, we are the lead supervising authority, but to be honest, our European friends have been very open and clear in their criticism of the Data Protection Commissioner here, so much so that they are trying to find ways around the role of Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner as the lead supervisory authority. They are trying to side-step us because we are seen as a block to effective administration of the general data protection regulation.

I very much welcome the commitment to review the number of commissioners. I was about to refer to the commitment to more commissioners, but I know that decision has not been made yet, so I must choose my words carefully. That was a recommendation of this committee, and it is very important.

One of the other recommendations of the committee was a review of the policies and procedures within the Data Protection Commission. I appreciate it is an independent office and it is not within the Minister's ability to demand anything, but I hope if any review or consultancy is required to be paid for in terms of policies or procedures that the Minister would commit to funding it if need be.