Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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95. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her position in relation to the challenge by a person (details supplied) to the stand contractual clauses for the transfer of data from the EU to non-EU locations such as the US; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14080/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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96. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Data Protection Commissioner will be more vigilant than in the past regarding companies that use personal data for commercial purposes without consent, specifically taking into account the new regulatory context opened by the General Data Protection Regulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14081/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together.

Under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003, the Data Protection Commissioner acts independently in the performance of her tasks and exercise of her powers. It would be entirely inappropriate for me, therefore, to make any comment on matters which have been the subject of recent High Court proceedings that were initiated by the Data Protection Commissioner in the exercise of her independent powers. I understand that the Court has reserved judgment in the matter.

I should add that the Commissioner will continue to act in a completely independent manner in performing her tasks and exercising her powers under the General Data Protection Regulation which is due to enter into force in May 2018.