Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 55 provides that all public bodies shall hold a public consultation in advance of entering into a data-sharing agreement. Section 55(1) provides that the public bodies shall publish: a copy of the draft data-sharing agreement; a summary of the findings of any data impact assessment; and a statement from the data protection officer of each of the public bodies concerned.

The Senator’s amendment proposes that at least two weeks would be given for the making of such submissions. This is a reasonable timeframe and I would accept it. However, section 62 provides that the data-governance board shall specify the time period for consultation. Accordingly, while I accept the principle of the amendment, I propose that an amendment be made to section 62 on Report Stage to give effect to what the Senator seeks and I ask her to withdraw the amendment to section 55.

Section 62 states:

The Board shall specify—(a) the time periods referred to in section 55(1)(d)(iii) and section 56, and

(b) the information to be submitted in accordance with section 56(1)(d).