Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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162. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is he satisfied that the Data Commissioner has the capacity and the resources to adequately monitor whether private companies and particularly those making use of external contractors who are in possession of sensitive data pertaining to members of the public, are fully adhering to data protection legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2980/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that I have already made available significant additional supports and resources to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which included a 20% increase in its budget for 2013 (compared with 2012) and a 9% increase in its 2014 budget (compared with 2013). These significant increases are noteworthy given that budgets for many public sector organisations have been reduced significantly, having regard to the current economic circumstances. Additional staffing resources have also been put in place, including specialist staff (which include a Chief Technology Advisor and a legal advisor) and additional administrative staff. The Government, and I as Minister, will continue to keep the resourcing of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner actively under review and my aim is to ensure that the Commissioner has the necessary resources to continue to meet the ongoing demands of this expanding sector, including the monitoring of private companies who are in possession of sensitive data relating to members of the public.