Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2022-07-13
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Lynn Ruane (IND), University of Dublin

I move amendment No. 8:
In page 8, line 7, to delete “an” and substitute “a serious”.
Amendments Nos. 8 and 11 seek to clarify that data retention powers should only be exercised in respect of serious offences or serious revenue offences. It is important we do not see situations where data privacy rights are being trampled over to tackle minor offences. Once again, powers of data retention are exceptional powers which stand down people’s data privacy rights. I am concerned by the perceived weakness of some of the provisions in respect of user data. It seems that Garda and Revenue officers currently have the scope to use these powers whenever they see fit in respect of user data. Notwithstanding the previous clarification of user data, it seems very similar to the Schedule 2 data that is more protected insofar as they both relate to names, addresses and IP addresses of users. We had that conversation previously in terms of teasing out a little bit around personal data.
The only amendments in this grouping are amendments Nos. 8 and 11. Is that correct?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2022-07-13/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:04+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-07-13