Results 15,121-15,140 of 18,736 for speaker:Michael McDowell

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2018)

Michael McDowell: The Minister has been very reasonable in what he has said, and although my amendment is at variance with the stance being taken by the Department, the debate has been useful in that it has raised the issue. It has been fairly thoroughly debated. It has been the occasion on which the amendments of Senators Ruane and Higgins have had their first run out, and if there is the prospect of...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2018)

Michael McDowell: No, what I will do in fact is I will move it.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2018)

Michael McDowell: I will not call for a vote on it.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2018)

Michael McDowell: Since we have moved away from the issue of children's rights and are dealing with a more general issue, I want to put one of the views on the record. The general data protection regulation, GDPR, is the culmination of a development of European Union law on data protection in which the progress towards protection and regulation has been inexorable and is becoming increasingly more...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: On a point of order, I respectfully submit that the matter be recommitted for Committee Stage treatment so that we can have a conversation about this rather than set speeches. I am slightly-----

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Yes, but I am entitled to move that it may be recommitted. I want to tease a few things out and speeches will not be the way to do it.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Yes. I so move.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: The ones we are discussing in this group.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Amendment Nos. 1, 25 to 30, inclusive, 38 and 39.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I have a number of issues. I want to be clear about what we are actually doing. Section 43 of the Bill in its present form-----

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Maybe I am being-----

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Section 43 of the Bill deals with a political party and uses a definition of a political party. I am not trying to stray outside the groupings. The section reads:Subject to suitable and specific measures being taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects, the processing of personal data revealing political opinions shall be lawful where the processing is carried...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Fair enough. In any event, he is noted as somebody who is particularly interested in some particular issues, issues A and C. The question is then whether processing of that material is lawful in the context of an election but unlawful at a later point? For instance, if the Senator says that he is hugely interested in having a referendum on issues X, Y and Z - we will leave out Y to be fair...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I was referring to remarks on the register.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Perhaps Senator Higgins misunderstands me. I am not just dazzled in this context by Cambridge Analytica or Big Brother doing X or Y with data they have harvested around the world; I am concerned with very basic, ordinary aspects of our political process.

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: Exactly. I am not suggesting for one moment that Senator Higgins is not right to be concerned about the other issues. They are probably much more contentious and more newsworthy this week than they were previously. However, I am actually concerned with the whole process of participating in the political life of our country. I do not have all the answers and do not claim to be expert in...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: One could say it was the electoral wind but he would have said it was something different. The other point is that in this context, the term "electoral" may have to be defined as including campaigns to amend the Constitution and referendum campaigns. Elections are different from referendums. A political party, its members or a candidate for election to or a holder of electoral office are...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I welcome the Minister's openness to look at all these issues again. There is quite a difference between Cambridge Road, Rathmines, and Cambridge Analytica. Perhaps I am much more pedestrian in my focus but I am looking at it from that point of view. There is now an explicit reference to a referendum commission carrying out a processing of political opinions. I would make one observation...

Seanad: Data Protection Bill 2018: Report Stage (22 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I move amendment No. 8:In page 23, line 6, to delete "is 13 years of age" and substitute "shall not be a lower age than already defined in Article 8". I note the Minister's proposed amendment No. 9 on a review operating in respect of these subsections and I welcome it. My views have not changed since the previous occasion and repeating them would be somewhat needless. We have to be...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Mar 2018)

Michael McDowell: I wish to raise a matter. I apologise, a but I was at a committee meeting.