Data Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2008

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Questions (93, 94)

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

193 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Taoiseach the policies in place to secure portable electronic data devices in his Department; if those policies have been published; if so, the locations where they can be viewed; if a system of whole disk encryption has been rolled out to all laptops in his Department; the date by which he expects a satisfactory security policy on portable electronic data devices to have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32410/08]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

All members of staff of my Department, who have portable electronic data devices issued to them for work purposes, are issued with a specific policy which they must read, sign and return for records purposes. This policy details the terms and conditions associated with securing the usage of this portable equipment. It is available on my Department's internal system. In addition to this, all staff in the Department are issued with a copy of the Departmental Code of Practice relating to the use of all IT facilities provided by my Department. Again, this code of practice is available on my Department's Intranet.

These policies are reviewed, updated and reissued on a regular basis to take account of any new threats to security of information. All laptops issued by my Department have their hard disks encrypted and store no data locally.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

194 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Taoiseach the number of Department owned computer desktops or laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, reported lost, missing or stolen from his Department to date in 2008; the number of same later recovered or found; the number still missing; if sensitive or private data was compromised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32425/08]

The Taoiseach

No computer, desktops, laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, have been reported missing or stolen from my Department to date in 2008.

Question No. 195 answered with Question No. 189.