Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, I cannot accept the Deputy's amendment. I understand the Deputy's seeking to ensure information stored in the database established under section 6 is not stored unnecessarily. He suggests I establish regulations that would provide for the periodic review of such data. As I mentioned during the debate on Committee Stage, the Data Protection Acts apply to all data stored by the bureau, including criminal records data and the specified information database. The vetting unit is registered with the Data Protection Commissioner in accordance with the Data Protection Acts and its procedures for storing and processing data are subject to the oversight of the commissioner in accordance with those Acts. The Data Protection Commissioner has also been consulted on the provisions contained in the Bill and has not raised any issue of concern.

For a Minister to set out the manner in which the storage of data would be reviewed and to do so separately from the established procedures would potentially undermine the credibility of our data protection legislation. I am anxious to ensure that I do not do that. I have no concerns as to the application of those Acts to the information held and managed by the bureau. I believe this is properly a matter for the Data Protection Commissioner to monitor appropriately.

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