Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Data Protection Minister Dara Murphy at the new Dublin premises for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Data Protection Minister Dara Murphy today announced that 21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2 has been secured as the new Dublin premises for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
The building, which is already in state ownership, will provide accommodation for up to forty new staff, and is in addition to the ODPC’s existing premises in Portarlington, Co. Laois, where 30 staff are based. Works to restore and fit-out the building will take place over the coming months, led by the OPW, and are expected to the completed by next summer.
Speaking at the announcement on Fitzwilliam Square, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said:
As Ireland embraces this digital age, Commissioner Helen Dixon and her team carry out an increasingly important statutory function, upholding the fundamental right of individuals to the protection of their personal data and privacy. Located in the heart of Dublin, these premises, on one of the city’s iconic Georgian squares, will increase the visibility and accessibility of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner – sending a strong signal that data protection is a key priority for Ireland.
Minister Dara Murphy added:
The securing of this new Dublin premises follows on from the significant increase in resources allocated to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in the last two budgets. This has allowed the Commissioner to recruit additional staff and plan ahead for the further scaling-up of the Office, in anticipation of the new EU General Data Protection Regulation.
As Minister for Data Protection, I keep the resourcing of the ODPC under review and my aim is to ensure that the Commissioner continues to have all of the necessary resources at her disposal to allow her to fulfil her independent statutory role.
Commissioner Helen Dixon commented:
Already over the last six months, 16 new staff including lawyers, technologists, investigators and a communications specialist have joined the Dublin-based DPC team with a further round of recruitment now again underway and we are greatly looking forward to settling into a new permanent location during 2016.