Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of Department owned computer desktops or laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, reported lost, missing or stolen from his Department in each year from 2002 to 2007; the number of these that were later recovered or found; the number still missing; if any sensitive or private data was compromised; the measures in place within his Department to secure such portable or at risk data devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1521/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that three laptops and two Blackberries were reported lost, missing or stolen from my Department between the years 2002 to 2007. Of these, one Blackberry and one Laptop was subsequently recovered. Two Laptops and one Blackberry are still missing. I have been assured by my officials that, to the best of their knowledge, there was no private or sensitive data compromised as a result of these events.

My Department ensures that data security measures are regularly reviewed in the light of changing circumstances and that any appropriate measures identified are implemented in order to prevent risk to data. All Departmental laptops are issued to staff with password protection enabled. Since October 2007, all data replicated from my Department's network to laptops is automatically encrypted. Mechanisms are in place to remotely immobilise and wipe any information on any portable data devices lost, missing or stolen from my Department.