Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This amendment relates to the area of data protection. We are very aware that the general data protection regulation, GDPR, is being discussed in the Oireachtas and that there are very serious requirements in respect of data protection. This area is not very much reflected in the Bill. I know that in the wider data protection Bill all public authorities and the universities will have standard requirements. I am asking that under the provisions of the Technological Universities Bill 2015, the universities publish their strategies on how they intend to meet the requirements of both Irish and European data protection standards.

I am specifically asking that there be a clear and comprehensive strategy available, one that students can access in respect of the policies and procedures around data protection in each new university. I think the existing universities would be advised to put in place similar policies and procedures, particularly in respect of elearning. Of course, an individual citizen can go back to the Data Protection Bill 2018 and the GDPR. Having moved though the 100 sections, I know it is a complex document and I suggest that there would be a simple, clear, comprehensive strategy in place so that, particularly with the rise of elearning, students know for example, when they are participating in elearning as to what the data protection rules mean in terms of data and intellectual property and also the rights and responsibilities of the university.

This important area is not fully covered in the data protection legislation because there is capacity for additional regulations. This may not be something that needs to be put forward in legislation but I would like an indication from the Minister of State that when there will be a discussion on the implementation of the GDPR with all higher education institutions, be they the new technological universities or existing universities, she will converse with them on the specific area of elearning and that she will encourage them to have clear information available to students. There must be a discussion on how elearning should be approached from the perspective of intellectual property and, more crucially, the perspective of the protection of the data rights of individuals.

This is a crucial area that is not addressed in the Bill and it is important that we get this right from the offset in the new universities.