Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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620. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent of external legal advice and-or consultancy she engaged on the issue of the report of the Commissioner for Data Protection into issues pertaining to the public services card in 2018 to 4 September 2019; the name of the consultants engaged and cost of same over the period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37007/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In my Department's consideration of the draft report of the Data Protection Commission (DPC) on the Public Services Card in 2018 and the final report received by my Department in August 2019, my officials consulted with the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

External counsel also contributed to the examination of both the draft and final reports. Counsel was engaged via the AGO, as is the normal protocol for Government Departments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.