Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Group 10 is quite short. It includes amendments Nos. 75 and 76. They relate to the data protection officer, DPO. Amendments Nos. 75 and 76 amend section 85 and their purpose is to support and strengthen the independence of DPOs operating under Part 5. Amendment No. 75 reads:

(c) ensure that the data protection officer—(i) reports directly, in relation to his or her functions under subsection (5), to the highest level of management of the controller,

(ii) does not receive any instructions regarding the exercise of such functions, and

(iii) is involved in an appropriate and timely manner in all matters relating to the protection of personal data.

Amendment No. 76 provides that the DPO will act as a contact point for data subjects when seeking to exercise their data protection rights.