Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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592. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the Irish Prison Service will cease using and processing employee biometric data; if her attention has been drawn to a recent decision by the Data Protection Commission on this issue; if no breaches of employees biometric data are currently taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34643/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) recently issued a letter relating to the processing of biometric data by the Irish Prison Service. The understanding is this constitutes preliminary findings rather than a decision.

I am informed that the findings are in respect of a complaint from an employee of the Service associated with the processing of biometric data (fingerprints) in an automated vending system to provide appropriate access to security keys used within the prison.

Following an examination of the findings and further to the advices of the Office of the Attorney General, a decision has now been taken to bring an appeal on certain aspects of those findings to the High Court. In light of this it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time.

Other findings of the Commission and specific directions to Irish Prison Service are not being appealed however, and I am further informed that the Irish Prison Service is taking steps to comply with the directions of the DPC in that regard.

The Deputy will wish to note that biometric data is processed in limited circumstances by the Irish Prison Service for the purposes of security controls, where it is considered that the use of alternative technologies, such as swipe cards, would constitute a risk to the good order and maintenance of security of the prisons and the safety and security of prison staff and of people in custody.