Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 712: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the details of all instances since 1 June 2002 where personal data held by his Department or any agency under its auspices were compromised in any way; if the review by his Department of data security procedures announced on 22 November 2007 is completed; and the findings of that review in terms both of prior shortcomings and of future actions. [2156/08]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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There are no instances of any personal data held by my Department or by the National Archives, which is part of the Department, being compromised in the period since 1 June 2002 to date. My Department has a range of measures in place to ensure that access to personal data held in electronic format, or hard copy, is limited only to those staff authorised to carry out duties in relation to such data. These measures are underpinned by Departmental policies and procedures, and by a range of security measures, including key card security, to prevent unauthorised access.

My Department's Information Technology systems are protected by security software facilities to prevent unauthorised access or interference from outside of the Department such as 'firewall' protection systems and the setting of password protection both to access the network as a user and to access distinct software packages available on the network. There is also comprehensive protection against computer viruses and so-called 'spam' emailing.

My Department's Deciding Officers under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 are trained, inter alia, in relation to the treatment of personal data for the purpose of the legislation. My Department's review of data security procedures, as announced by the Tánaiste in November 2007, is not yet complete. The findings of that review will issue to the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance in due course.

With regard to the agencies under the aegis of my Department the security of personal data held is a day-to-day matter for the agencies themselves.