Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a rural Deputy, I think it is important that a Deputy, Senator or local authority member is able to communicate with constituents. It is very important. It is part of the role. It is also important to point out with regard to the Bill that Oireachtas Members and local authorities have the same obligations as anybody else with regard to the protection of data that they hold. They are obliged under the Bill to ensure that the information they hold on the constituent or such is secure and safe. That is very important.

The area that Senator Higgins is dealing with, section 38(2), relates to communication. As she rightly pointed out, communication is very important. Some Oireachtas Members like to communicate with their constituents. That is an important part of the job, whether by electronic mail or door-knocking. There are different means of communication. The information that people have, particularly relating to communications, is that the data that one has on hold are not for sharing with others. That is important to point out. Any information that one has must be in the interests of the electorate, as the Senator has rightly pointed out. Any communication is for sharing with the electorate only, not with others. That is in section 38(2).

I thank Senator Higgins and I also thank Senator Conway for his comments on the change that the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, brought in. It is an important change to allow public representatives to be able to communicate and work with their constituents in a responsible way. When one is elected as an Oireachtas Member or to local government, one has responsibilities in every area to ensure one upholds those responsibilities as a public representative. Now there is the GDPR coming into place and the Data Protection Bill, and everyone has the same obligations in terms of the protection of data and ensuring that data are stored safely.