Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [1520/08]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A small amount of computer equipment has been reported lost or stolen in the period specified (as outlined in the table below).

A number of measures are in place in my Department to protect private and sensitive data. Users supplied with Departmental equipment are issued with guidance to ensure devices are secured appropriately. All laptops issued by the Department have encrypted hard drives and store no data locally. Strong authentication methods, in addition to simple username and password, are in place to prevent unauthorised access to these devices. Mobile devices can be, and are, disabled immediately by my staff, on notification that they are lost or stolen.

My Department continually reviews and updates procedures and products to secure portable machines and devices to the highest levels.