Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if disks, laptops or memory storage devices containing personal information about members of the public have been lost or stolen from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5008/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The only such devices reported lost or stolen in recent years were:

2002 — One Laptop computer — while staff member was on public transport

2004 — One Laptop — house break-in

2006 — Two laptops — one house break-in and one car break-in

2007 — One laptop — house break-in

While laptop computers, can be used to remote access customer information, such data is not retained on the device following access. Industry standard security protocols, such as password protection and security software, are deployed to protect all departmentally supplied devices and preserve the confidentiality of data.