Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
731. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the way her Department would handle personal data disclosed during the Green Paper on Disability Reform: A Public Consultation to Reform Disability Payments in Ireland (details supplied). [47844/23]
View answerIn September, I launched the Green Paper on Disability Reform and the associated public consultation.
As part of this public consultation, we invite individuals, Disabled Persons' Organisations, and other disability stakeholder bodies to share their views with us by participating in one of our public consultation events or by making a making a written or video submission.
Privacy is of the utmost importance to me and my Department when handling the submissions we receive. The public consultation page on gov.ie contains detailed information on privacy. It states that "any personal information which you volunteer to this department, will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/67 and the Data Protection Act 2018".
Submissions on the Green Paper are handled by officials in my Department's Disability and Carers' Policy Unit only and personal information is redacted from every submission. Data and submissions are kept within this unit and no personal data is shared with other Units in my Department or with anyone outside of the Department.
The Department will publish submissions received after the consultation period ends. The names of organisations that make a submission will be included. All personal data from individual submissions will be removed prior to publication.
I can assure everyone that making a submission will have no impact on their payment or on any dealings they may have with my Department.
I want to emphasise that the Green Paper is a consultation document. Its purpose is to generate discussion, debate and invite suggestions. I am open to ideas and welcome all submissions. I would like to encourage everyone with an interest in improving the lives of people with disabilities to engage in the consultation process and to make a submission or visit one of our consultation events.
These are taking place in Dublin Castle on 9 November, in Cork on 14 November and in Athlone on 23 November. Public consultation events are open to disability groups, Disabled Persons' Organisations and members of the public. Depending on demand, my officials are happy to add more locations and more events to this event series.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
