Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 332: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she proposes to take to ensure that all organisations under the control of her Department have developed proper data protection plans. [11727/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Therefore the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested that the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive investigate the matter of data protection plans for the HSE and the agencies under its control and issue a reply directly to the Deputy.

In relation to the agencies directly funded by my Department these are aware of the responsibilities placed on them by the Data Protection Acts,1988 and 2003, in relation to protection of personal data which they hold.

The Department of Finance has recently initiated a review of the systems and procedures in operation in Government Departments and Agencies to protect the confidentiality of personal data. As soon as the review is completed, my Department will instruct the agencies under its control to ensure that any recommendations arising in relation to improving existing systems and procedures to protect the confidentiality of personal data are put in place as quickly as possible.