asked the Minister for the Public Service the outcome, if any, of the proceedings of the committee established by him concerning the use of computer data banks in Ireland in the public and private sectors, with particular reference to safeguarding the privacy of the individual; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Computer Data Banks.
79.
I did not establish a committee on the question of computer data banks in Ireland. The question of safeguarding the privacy of personal information, recorded on computer files, is however, kept under constant review. My Department are represented on OECD and EEC committees which are concerned with issues such as data-banks and privacy.
I do not consider, however, that the computer systems which have been developed in our public service present a threat to the privacy of the individual. Apart from some specialised scientific computing, the computer systems which have been installed in the civil service, for instance, have replaced clerical procedures. No attempt has been made to build up data banks on people, or to link through computers information which has been traditionally held in manual files in more than one Department.
Legislation already exists concerning the privacy of sensitive personal information collected by agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Central Statistics Office. Specific legislation was required to enable the Revenue Commissioners to divulge information on reckonable earnings for the administration of Social Welfare pay-related benefits.