Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 79: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to ensure monitoring of PULSE to ensure members of An Garda Síochána adhere to their legal and disciplinary obligations in regard to its proper use; if audit trails of the usage of PULSE and other official systems can always be accurate and verifiable, as recommended by the Garda Ombudsman Commission following the death of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2826/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am advised by the Garda authorities that they comply fully with their obligations under the Data Protection Acts 1988. Following formal approval by the Data Protection Commissioner a "Data Protection Code of Practice" has been issued to every member and employee of the organisation. As regards PULSE, the system itself incorporates an accurate audit system which records all record creations and updates made. The audit records include the date and time when the update on the system took place and contain details of the user signed onto the system at that time. The audit trails also record all inquires made on the core items of interest on the PULSE system including Person and Vehicle.

These audit records are automatically written at the time the transaction takes place. They can only be accessed centrally and are not available or visible to users. Finally, I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the recommendations in the report of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission into the incident in question are being examined.