Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is an important occasion with this Bill now being passed by Dáil Éireann. I join the Minister in acknowledging the work done by Mr. Carroll and Ms Walsh in the Department. It was a significant task to put together this legislation, which was for the part purpose of bringing into effect the GDPR - the parts of it that we wanted to put into the legislation - and also for the purpose of transposing the other accompanying directives.

The process relating to the Bill has been fairly tortuous in terms of the work we have had to do on Second Stage, Committee Stage and Report Stage. That simply reflects the fact that it is going to have a very significant impact and consequences for people in Ireland. The whole premise of the Bill is well-intentioned. It is there to ensure that there is protection for the personal data of individuals. However, it is not the case that the legislation will place burdens only on large corporations and how they deal with the smaller person. In fact, it is also going to place significant obligations on the smaller person and business. I have no doubt there will be difficulties with the legislation after it comes into force and after the GDPR becomes effective on Friday of next week. Hopefully, it will not as torturous as the process relating to the legislation has been.

The progress of the Bill also reflects the fact that we can do nothing in this House once regulations are agreed. Once the regulation was signed up to on 27 April 2016, there was very little we could do. This regulation is coming into effect on Friday week and nothing that this House or, indeed, the Seanad do will affect the provisions of the GDPR. I hope it is a success. I commend all the individuals who contributed here today and on Committee Stage. Let us hope that the legislation will be effective in terms of achieving the primary purpose, which is the protection of individuals’ personal data.

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