Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
12. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will detail and publish his strategy and An Garda Síochána action plan addressing the concerns and recommendations arising from the Data Protection Commissioner’s internal audit in March 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19269/14]
View answerThe Data Protection Commissioner published a data protection audit report in March this year in relation to An Garda Síochána covering the period 2011 to October 2013. It includes a number of detailed recommendations made to An Garda Síochána arising from the audit along with the responses of An Garda Síochána. The full report is available on the website of An Garda Síochána at www.garda.ie.
An Garda Síochána must of course take its obligations under the Data Protection legislation very seriously. I am pleased to note that the main finding of the report was that the majority of the areas examined demonstrated a professional police force operating in compliance with data protection legislation. I am advised that the implementation of many of the recommendations in the report was already well advanced or completed by an Garda Síochána by the end of the audit, and that an Garda Síochána intend to implement any outstanding recommendations as soon as possible, subject to any necessary changes to legislation.
A central focus of the audit was the PULSE system. The report expressed concerns in relation to the oversight of access by individual members of An Garda Síochána to records of individuals and the related risk of disclosure outside of An Garda Síochána. While this is of course a matter for concern, it should be borne in mind that a number of Gardaí have been subject to discipline for inappropriate access to PULSE within the period under review, and the Data Protection Commissioner has acknowledged that An Garda Síochána have taken steps to counter any future inappropriate access to PULSE.
I am further advised that the Garda Professional Standards Unit has also worked with the Garda IT Centre to develop a report that will allow District Officers to review checks that are carried out by members under their control and in particular the reasons being recorded on the PULSE system for these checks.
An Garda Síochána will continue to work closely with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure its delivery of best practice in data protection.
