Mr. Brian McDowell:

There are many key findings in the report but one that stands out to me is that more than half of respondents did not know that they were being monitored or that there was any surveillance taking place on their home or work computers. That goes back to the collective bargaining element of it. Those discussions should happen with the trade union movement prior to anything going on employees' computers or phones. That is the important element and it comes back to collective bargaining.

The other part, as Dr. O'Sullivan mentioned, is that this is one of the first pieces of research in Ireland on this issue. That is why we feel today is really important and why we asked the committee if it could commission a report into this. We need to know what is happening out there. There is a lack of data and knowledge of what is happening with employers, where the data is being stored, and so forth. That is why it would be really important if the committee would agree to commission a report into this issue. I ask it to get employers in to find out exactly where data is being stored, what data are being stored and how long they are being stored for. Discussions should happen with the trade union movement prior to anything happening.