The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter T.D., today
underlined the Government’s ongoing strong support for the Office of the
Data Protection Commissioner. The Minister and the Government are acutely
aware of the critical importance of the role of the Office of the Data
Protection Commission in the development of the digital economy.
The Minister has already, in the context of the Budget allocations for
2013, made available significant additional supports and resources to the
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which include:
· A 20% increase in the budget for the Office in 2013 (compared with
2012). This significant increase is noteworthy given that budgets for
many public sector organisations have been reduced significantly,
having regard to the current economic circumstances;
· Additional staffing resources which have been put in place including:
o Specialist staff including a Chief Technology Advisor and a
legal advisor
o Additional administrative staff.
The Minister has also committed to providing whatever additional resources
are necessary to enable the Data Protection Commissioner to continue to
discharge the vital functions of his Office.
In the context of Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union, as part of
its focus on the Digital Agenda, the Irish Presidency will work to reach
agreement in the Council on key aspects of the data protection package.
This is aimed at ensuring that citizens will have more control over their
personal data.
Part of the data protection package includes proposals for a "one stop
shop" data protection regime, i.e. where a multinational company is
currently subject to the jurisdiction of multiple data protection
authorities (DPAs), the proposed Regulation would provide for a
multinational to be subject to a "one stop shop" single DPA working in
close collaboration with other DPAs where services are being provided in
different EU Member States. This is likely to have considerable
implications for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Ireland,
including significant resourcing demands.
"The Government, and I as Minister, will continue to keep the resourcing of
the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner actively under review and
will ensure that any additional necessary resources will be made available
to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner" said Minister Shatter.
"The Commissioner and his staff have done superb work over recent years
with limited resources and I commend them for this. My aim is to ensure
that the Commissioner has the necessary resources to ensure he can continue
to meet the needs of this expanding sector."