Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - EU Directives.

John Bruton

Ceist:

932 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the delay in implementing the EU Council directive, which provides for the protection of individuals in regard to the processing of personal data; when this directive was due to be implemented; the reason the deadline was not met; and if he will make a statement on when it will be implemented. [1388/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am pleased to say that the drafting of a Bill to transpose Directive 95/46/EC on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data is well advanced, and it is expected that it will be published by Easter.

Measures to implement Directive 95/46/EC were required to be in place by October 1998 with member states having a further three years to ensure full conformity with its provisions. I regret that transposition of the directive has been delayed, in particular, because of its complexity. I understand that Ireland is one of a number of member states that have experienced difficulties in this regard. I should point out, however, that many of the directive's provisions have already been given legal effect in this jurisdiction by the Data Protection Act 1988. Moreover, on 19 December 2001, I signed the European Communities (Data Protection) Regulations, 2001, which will give effect to certain additional provisions of the directive on 1 April 2002. These regulations amend the provisions of the 1988 Act and provide, in particular, that transfers of personal data to countries and territories outside the European economic area may only take place where adequate standards of data protection are deemed to exist.