Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are service level agreements between Government Departments regarding the sharing of data, for example, between the the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49701/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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While the particular arrangements for the sharing of data between two Departments is a matter for the Departments concerned, it is my understanding that such sharing is generally governed by a Memorandum of Understanding which sets out the expectations on both sides.

The question of the governance of data-sharing is of great importance. In recognition of this, the Government recently requested my Department to prepare the Heads of a Data-Sharing and Governance Bill, with the following core objectives: to make lawful data-sharing easier by providing a framework that public bodies can use to establish the necessary legal basis; to improve the governance and security of all data-sharing in the public service; and to provide a mechanism that can be used to encourage public bodies to move away from paper documents when dealing with citizens and businesses.