Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 205: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the security arrangements in place for Government Ministers, senior officials in the civil and public sector, the security forces and Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to prevent any occurrence of telephone hacking; if he will reassure the general public and particularly vulnerable citizens in relation to telephone hacking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20895/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1I wish to advise the Deputy that the security arrangements to which he is referring are not the responsibility of my Department and therefore I am unable to provide any information on this matter.

With regard to the general question of telephone hacking, it is my view that this is a matter, in the first instance, for An Garda Síochána. I am also aware that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is considering this matter in terms of unauthorised access to personal information. That Office falls under the remit of the Department of Justice and Equality.

Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 206: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the practice of one British newspaper in hacking telephones of victims of crime or their families, there are any current investigations or complaints, or if his attention has been drawn to any hacking of telephones here; his views regarding same; his further views on the need for legislation to outlaw such practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20894/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

2057I am not aware of any current investigations or complaints in relation to the issue referred to by the Deputy. Such investigations would be a matter, in the first instance, for An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which has responsibility for the protection of personal information.

I understand that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is having discussions with some of the mobile phone operators in relation to this matter with a view to addressing potential problems with the existing voicemail access system.

Consumers can ensure greater security by ensuring that the default access code for voicemail is changed and by deleting messages in their voice mailboxes. I also understand that many new Smart Phone devices have built in privacy managers, which allow the user to customise how the phone manages personal information, and that these settings can be changed at any time and not just when an application is first installed. The use of PIN numbers for access to handsets and voicemail, and, in some instances, encryption of messages, allows users to protect information stored on their phones, such as SMS messages and emails, as well as enabling them to protect personal information, such as voicemails, stored on the telecommunications network.

I recently introduced the European Communities (Electronic Communications Network and Services) (Privacy of Electronic Communications) Regulations which oblige undertakings providing publicly available electronic communications networks or services to safeguard the security of its services and, indeed, it is an offence for such undertakings not to comply with these requirements. Provisions in relation to data breaches have also been strengthened. Responsibility for the enforcement of these measures rests with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.