Justice Committee to discuss Data Protection Package and EU legislative proposals

Committee Chairman David Stanton TD said: “Data Protection legislation as it currently exists dates back to the mid-1990s, before the advent of social media and the widespread usage of online commerce. The new Data Protection Package is considered essential to enhancing consumer confidence in the online market place. Last week we received an update on the progress on the package during the Irish Presidency when we met with Justice Minister Alan Shatter TD. It is important that we have in place robust legislation not only to protect people’s personal information but also to instil greater confidence in online commerce and in the long run support companies which want to trade online. Tomorrow we will discuss the Data Protection Package in more detail with Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes.

The Committee will also carry out scrutiny of EU legislative proposals:

COM(2013)534 – Proposal for a Council Regulation on the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office

 COM(2013)535 – Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)

The meeting will start in Committee Room 2, Leinster House at 9.30am on Wednesday, 9th October 2013.

Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Media Enquiries to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Committee Membership

Deputies: Niall Collins (FF); Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (FG); Alan Farrell (FG); Anne Ferris (LAB) [Vice-Chairman]; Seán Kenny (LAB); Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF); Finian McGrath (IND); John Paul Phelan (FG); David Stanton (FG) [Chairman]

Senators:   Ivana Bacik (LAB); Martin Conway (FG); Rónán Mullen (IND); Denis O’Donovan (FF); Katherine Zappone (IND); Tony Mulcahy (FG).