Review of personal data security needed following laptop theft

Posted on February 20, 2008 at 12:35 PM

The security of people's personal data was discussed in the Dáil this morning during Leaders' Questions after the theft of a laptop containing the personal details of 171,000 Irish blood donors. You can read more about this on the Irish Times website (subs required).

The theft of the laptop also highlighted a recent Dáil question tabled by Deputy Ruairi Quinn which found that almost one hundred laptop and desktop computers, as well as at least 14 Blackberry mobile phones and eleven portable storage devices, have been lost or stolen over the past five years.

Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD addressing the Taoiseach said: "I think it is reasonable that when people give personal information to a State agency people need to have some confidence that information is secure.

Deputy Gilmore asked: "Can the Taoiseach inform the house as to the extent of the information that was on the laptop?

"Also if the Taoiseach would ask the Data Protection Commissioner to undertake a full audit of the full security procedures and measure which are in place governing the protection of personal information supplied to Government departments. We need a full overview of the security in place."

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