Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the guidelines and protections her Department has issued to local authorities regarding data protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19942/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the Minister for Justice and Equality has no role under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 in relation to the issuing of guidelines or other communications to local authorities or any other bodies in respect of data protection. No such guidelines or communications have been issued by me nor, as far as I am aware, any of my predecessors.

The Office of Data Protection Commissioner has been established under article 9 of the Data Protection Act 1988. The Commissioner's statutory functions include the monitoring of implementation of data protection law, the investigation of complaints and, where appropriate, the taking of legal proceedings in the event of breaches of data protection rules. The Commissioner also publishes useful information and helpful guidance on the proper implementation of data protection law on his Office's web site (www.dataprotection.ie). The web site and the Commissioner's annual report also contain useful case studies which illustrate the application of data protection law in specific cases, including cases involving the activities of local authorities.