Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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190. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a schedule will be provided of the data sets, databases and file types his Department has shared with the Department of Health since 2000. [17973/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the sharing of personal data, my Department does not share personal data with other Data Controllers, including other Departments, unless it has a legal basis for doing so under Article 6 and, where appropriate, Article 9 of the GDPR. Data sharing with other Data Controllers is detailed in the Department’s Article 30 GDPR, Record of Processing Activities. There are no records of data sets, databases or file types shared with the Department of Health.

My Department has received data from and transferred data to the Department of Health and other lead Departments, in the context of the representation of the State as agent before international courts and tribunals (including the European Court of Human Rights, the European Committee of Social Rights, and various UN complaints bodies).

Without a comprehensive and detailed review of files across the Department since 2000, it is not possible to compile a schedule where non-personal data is shared. My Department corresponds with the Department of Health on a number of matters, including most recently the Covid-19 pandemic. My Department provides consular assistance to all Irish citizens in distress overseas, and their families in Ireland, where requested. This can include advice and support across a range of areas, some of which fall under the remit of other Government Departments. Consular officials therefore engage frequently with other Departments, including the Department of Health, to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is provided to our citizens abroad. My Department has worked closely with the Department of Health in the context of Covid-19, including in relation to repatriations and public health guidelines around international travel. Since 2020, my Department has provided 86 Digests of Mission Reporting on Covid-19 and 30 Reports on Aspects of the International Response to the COVID crisis to the Department of Health.