Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will amend the Data Protection Act to allow local authorities to name and shame those convicted of littering offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14418/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The position is that adoption of a policy of naming and shaming those convicted of littering offences under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 is in the first instance a policy matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Subject to Government approval to proceed with such a policy, the required statutory provisions could be enacted by means of an appropriate amendment to the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 or the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009.

In the case of tax defaulters, for example, specific provision has already been made in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for the publication of the names of such defaulters. Section 1086 of that Act contains detailed provisions which allow for the compilation of lists of those on whom fines or other penalties have been imposed and for the publication of each such list. The principal advantage of this approach is that the specific features of the offences in question can be taken more readily and conveniently into account than under a more general amendment of the Data Protection Acts.