Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2012
185. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ask farmers who ring his Department, for some sort of identification, such as their PPSN, to ensure that those ringing are the person's they claim to be and to ensure security of information in relation to clients of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55778/12]
View answerMy Department ensures that personal data held for the administration of its schemes and services is protected in accordance with Data Protection legislation. Customers who contact my Department by phone to seek information relating to their personal data must first of all satisfy officials as to their identity. Farmer customers, for example, will be asked for a unique identifier provided by the Department, such as a Herd Number or a REPS Number. Further information known only to the customer may also be requested.
