Vol. 562 No. 6
130 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport what input the Government had into the recently concluded personal data-sharing deal between the US and EU that will force transatlantic airlines such as Aer Lingus to provide US authorities with the names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries, and credit card details of all passengers after 5 March 2003. [6798/03]
131 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the Government's position on the recently concluded personal data-sharing deal between the US and EU that will force transatlantic airlines such as Aer Lingus to provide US authorities with the names, addresses, phone numbers, itineraries, and credit card details of all passengers after 5 March 2003; and his views on the concerns that this deal violates the privacy and data protection rights of Irish citizens. [6799/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
As part of the security measures being introduced by the USA following the attacks on 11 September 2001, the US Government has introduced a legal requirement for access to data on passengers travelling to, from or through the USA.
The European Commission was concerned that the US requirements might infringe European data protection rules. This concern was shared by member states. The European Commission met the US authorities on 17 and 18 February 2003 to work out a compromise which will respect EU data rules and address the concerns of member states but which will also meet US demands. The main elements of such a compromise were arrived at following those discussions, and the final details have been agreed in recent days.
Under the compromise agreement, US authorities will process passenger name and record data held by airlines in their computerised reservation systems, for passengers travelling to, from or through the US. In doing so, the US authorities have undertaken to respect EU data protection laws. The information held by the US will be treated as confidential personal information and will be protected by the US authorities from disclosure or inappropriate use.
The European Commission will meet soon with airlines and data protection authorities from all member states, including Ireland, to explain the agreement reached with the US authorities and to elicit their views.
