James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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403. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to expand the office of the Data Protection Commissioner over 2018 (details supplied). [34191/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Government has recognised the clear imperative of having a well funded independent and internationally respected data protection regulator, particularly in view of the Data Protection Commissioner's leading role in regulating the data processing activities in Europe of many of the world’s leading technology companies which have their European headquarters in Ireland. 

The existence of a professional and competent data protection authority has been acknowledged as a critical enabler to the development and growth of our digital economy and Ireland's continuing attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment by the technology multinationals.

The Government has publicly committed to continuing to provide the resources necessary for the DPC to perform its globally significant role, which will become increasingly prominent under the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  

The recruitment of staff is ongoing and the DPC staffing level currently stands at 65. The current workforce plan anticipates staffing levels at circa 130 to 150 in 2018 which will be critical to enabling the DPC to perform its considerably increased functions under the GDPR, particularly its greatly expanded role at a European level. My Department will seek sanction for the increased staffing through the normal estimates process.

The DPC's current projected staffing needs do not take into account the extensive impact on the DPC of the proposed new ePrivacy Regulation and any further resource requirements arising from the detailed assessment, currently ongoing, of the organisational impact of the GDPR.