Results 16,761-16,780 of 32,969 for speaker:Catherine Connolly

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Okay. I do not mean to zone in on any particular person but we are here to discuss value for money and the business case. I was raised to believe the devil quotes scripture for his own purpose and we all now do that. I see that a chapter of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report is being quoted ad nauseam, by me as well as others. It is being done incorrectly, as it happens. The...

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: It was a projected figure up until the end of 2017. It was quoted in the Dáil again last night, as was a figure of €62 million. The figure for activation - whatever that means - was not included. I have a card. It is not a very high-quality photo, but that is a different matter. I do not know about the high-value photo. In any event, it runs out of the date. I would like...

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I thank Mr. Gleeson very much. We will go back to the Data Protection Commission accounts. Can Ms Dixon explain the situation in respect of rent? The commission was in a premises in Fitzwilliam Square provided by the Office of Public Works and paid no rent. Is that right?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Very good. The commission pays no rent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I understand that the commission then expanded and needed additional premises. It went to two different places, for which a fairly high rent is paid. The commission is now hoping to occupy another premises for which it will also be paying rent.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That is all set out. I have read it. What I do not understand is why the Office of Public Works cannot provide the commission with another building. The commission is moving away from paying no rent, which is how it should be as it provides a vital service paid for with taxpayers' money. Was that rent-free accommodation just a temporary arrangement with the Office of Public Works?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That is very good.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I am not asking Ms Dixon to justify that. I have often made the point that public money is being wasted on rent, which is keeping market rents artificially high. I do not expect Ms Dixon to have an answer to that, but that is where I am coming from. I then see a perfect situation in which the commission is accommodated rent-free in a Government-owned building. That is great. Problems...

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: There are very specific criteria that need to be fulfilled for the commission to function.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Is the Office of Public Works handling that for the commission? Does it handle the acquisition of premises?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Did it handle the acquisition of the two temporary premises?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: That is what the commission did.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: With regard to Ms Dixon's own role, she just mentioned that she was appointed five years ago. Has she been reappointed?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Was that for another five-year term?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: I would love to tease out the issue of the rented buildings but I am conscious of time. I want to ask about legal costs awarded against the Data Protection Commission. This is mentioned on page 17. The accounts cover two periods; I am looking at the period from 25 May 2018 to the end of December 2018. Legal costs awarded against the Data Protection Commission totalled €445,401....

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Would it be possible to get a note on that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Marketing and media expenses and GDPR awareness are mentioned on the same page. The commissioner has already touched on this. This also represents a big sum if we take the two six-month periods together. The commissioner explained some of this already.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: The commissioner would not expect the figure to be so high next year.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: The debate around the commissioner's findings will also help with awareness, will it not? The commission will not need a marketing campaign.

Public Accounts Committee: 2018 Financial Statements of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (26 Sep 2019)

Catherine Connolly: Again, I do not expect the commissioner to comment on policy or political matters, but she talked about a risk analysis leading to this investigation. The commission did not rush into this. Finally, it was broadened out and the commission carried out a risk analysis. Then came the investigation and all that ensued. I have heard the argument that people have embraced this card and that...