Vol. 437 No. 1
82 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice her views on the draft European Union privacy directive currently being discussed in Brussels, which effectively would ban canvassing and the sending of direct mail shots to electors prior to an election.
A proposal for a Council Directive on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (SYN 287) is being examined by an EC Council Working Group, at whose meetings officials of my Department attend on behalf of this country.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made during ongoing discussions at Council Working Group level to ensure that the existing law on the use of personal data for the purpose of direct mailing prior to an election is not materially altered by the provisions of the Directive when finalised.
