Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 39, line 29, to delete “notice.” and substitute the following:

“notice, and

(v) a deadline for submissions not sooner than two weeks from the date of publication of the notice.”.

This section relates to the public consultation on a data-sharing agreement, the publication of a proposed agreement and an opportunity to engage in it. My amendment proposes that the public consultation must set a deadline that is not sooner than two weeks from the date of publication of the notice. If a data-sharing agreement is being put forward, it is the bare minimum that will effectively allow the transfer of individuals' data between organisations and bodies. They would have two weeks in which to lodge or express any concerns and become aware of that data-sharing agreement.

This relates to an earlier debate we had on Committee Stage to which we will return on Report Stage. I have had some constructive engagement with departmental officials on other measures which could be put in place to ensure that the data-sharing agreement itself, which people are looking at during this period of public consultation, contains useful, usable information and clarity for the people looking at it. Under the GDPR, there is a responsibility to ensure clarity of information and accessibility of information. I appreciate the engagement I had with officials on that and I will return to the usability of data-sharing agreements for public consultation as well as this question of ensuring a suitable time period for consultation.