My Department has an effective data governance framework in place to ensure that it meets its obligations as a data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of its data sharing activities. This includes putting in place specific Data Sharing Agreements in respect of the sharing of data with other Departments and agencies. My Department lawfully shares information with a number of Government Departments, bodies, agencies, and local authorities, for the purposes which are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and in other Acts.
Furthermore there is a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and An Garda Síochána which provides for the secondment of members of An Garda Síochána to my Department for the purposes of detecting and investigating social welfare fraud. The Memorandum of Understanding requires that any data exchange between my Department and Gardaí on secondment is subject to the highest standards of confidentiality and security and in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation and rules. Members of An Garda Síochána seconded to my Department are obliged to adhere to the same Data Protection protocols and undertakings as all staff members.
I trust that this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
