Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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614. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if his Department has protocols or agreements in place to govern how information arising from investigations conducted by members of An Garda Síochána seconded to the Department may be shared with other public bodies; and if she will clarify whether any such information can be used for administrative or employment-related purposes outside of the Department's core functions. [25635/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There is a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and An Garda Síochána which provides for the secondment of members of An Garda Síochána to my Department for the purposes of detecting and investigating social welfare fraud.

The Memorandum of Understanding requires that any data exchange between my Department and Gardaí on secondment is subject to the highest standards of confidentiality and security and in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation and rules. Members of An Garda Síochána seconded to my Department are obliged to adhere to the same Data Protection protocols and undertakings as all staff members. There are no provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding specific to the sharing of information by members of An Garda Síochána seconded to my Department with other public bodies.

I trust that the above is of assistance to the Deputy.