Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
55. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has received a judgment from the Data Protection Commissioner regarding the use of CCTV and illegal dumping. [8599/21]
View answer63. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being posed to local authorities in pursuing prosecutions for illegal dumping due to difficulties regarding the use of CCTV due to general data protection regulation, GDPR; his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8882/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 63 together.
I have not received any judgment from the Data Protection Commission (DPC) regarding the use of CCTV and illegal dumping. However, I have received correspondence from the DPC outlining their concerns around the legal basis for the use of CCTV cameras by local authorities in the enforcement of waste management legislation.
The Government's recently published “Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy”, contains a commitment to ensure that all waste enforcement legislation will be “data proofed”, so that all available and emerging technologies can be fully utilised for enforcement activities in a manner which is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant.
My Department is currently working on a Circular Economy Bill which will contain provisions to give effect to the commitment in the Waste Action Plan. This will help to ensure that AVR equipment can be utilized by local authorities to protect our environment from the scourge of illegal dumping, while at the same time respecting the privacy rights of citizens.
