James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The general data protection regulation comes into effect in less than 12 months, in May 2018.

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It is directly applicable, which that means it will be enforced immediately in Ireland. It is complex and was the largest piece of legislation ever to emanate from the European Union. Data protection is obviously at the heart of the technology industry, multinationals and SMEs. In fact, anybody who does business keeps customer records on file and this is not to mention privacy issues, as well as the data protection and digital rights citizens must enjoy. Civic society has done great work in this area. However, if we look at the ministerial portfolios the Taoiseach created recently, data protection is fifth in line in the list of responsibilities of one Minister of State. The Minister of State, Deputy Pat Breen, has responsibility for jobs, trade, small business, the digital single market and data protection, which in fifth in line in what is already a fragmented and complex Department. With the best will in the world, it is difficult to see how the Minister of State can give it due attention and there are concerns within the industry that it is not receiving sufficient Government attention. It is a hugely important issue and will be a game changer across the area of commercial, scientific and data privacy issues.

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