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05/01/2012
Household Charge Data Sharing 'Disturbing'
The DATA Protection Commissioner has expressed concern about the accessing of home owners’ utility bill information in order to collect the new €100 household charge.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Billy Hawkes said the use of homeowner's utility details was a “disturbing development” and that any access to information from ESB or other bills should be minimal.
The controversy surrounds the use of the Household Charge Board's ability to use utility bills to find out information on homeowners who would be liable to pay the €100 charge, which was announced in last year's budget. Currently, homeowners have to register their names in order to be charged the fee.
However, Environment Minister Phil Hogan has stated the Household Charge website adheres to the required data protection and privacy standards.
Although noting the Data Protection Commissioner had "indicated some issues" he assured the public that such issues would be "addressed immediately".
The Minister said no data sharing between relevant data holders will take place in advance of the "protocol and the agreement of the relevant modalities" with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
Minister Hogan welcomed the fact that over €1 million has already been collected in the first four days of operation of the Household Charge and that over 10,000 properties were registered.
"I would like to acknowledge and thank the 10,000 who have registered their properties and paid the charge at this early stage. The large numbers of people paying the charge is a clear indication of compliance with the legislation and the acceptance that the Household Charge is necessary to fund vital local services in our communities."
(DW)
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Billy Hawkes said the use of homeowner's utility details was a “disturbing development” and that any access to information from ESB or other bills should be minimal.
The controversy surrounds the use of the Household Charge Board's ability to use utility bills to find out information on homeowners who would be liable to pay the €100 charge, which was announced in last year's budget. Currently, homeowners have to register their names in order to be charged the fee.
However, Environment Minister Phil Hogan has stated the Household Charge website adheres to the required data protection and privacy standards.
Although noting the Data Protection Commissioner had "indicated some issues" he assured the public that such issues would be "addressed immediately".
The Minister said no data sharing between relevant data holders will take place in advance of the "protocol and the agreement of the relevant modalities" with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
Minister Hogan welcomed the fact that over €1 million has already been collected in the first four days of operation of the Household Charge and that over 10,000 properties were registered.
"I would like to acknowledge and thank the 10,000 who have registered their properties and paid the charge at this early stage. The large numbers of people paying the charge is a clear indication of compliance with the legislation and the acceptance that the Household Charge is necessary to fund vital local services in our communities."
(DW)
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07 January 2014
Support For Commissioner's View On Data Protection
Dublin Bay North Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Communications committee, Sean Kenny, has welcomed comments by the Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, that people are using the services of his office to voice their concerns on breaches of data protection.
Support For Commissioner's View On Data Protection
Dublin Bay North Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Communications committee, Sean Kenny, has welcomed comments by the Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, that people are using the services of his office to voice their concerns on breaches of data protection.
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BoI 'Will Not Publish' Data Breach Report
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09 July 2013
News Legislation Approved To Tackle Non-Payers Of Water Charge
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17 October 2012
Household Charge Letters Sent To Households Who Paid
Household charge warning letters seeking payment of €127 including a penalty for late payment have been sent to homeowners who have already paid the charge, the Local Government Management Agency has confirmed. The first batch of warning letters to owner-occupiers, believed not to have paid the charge, was issued last week.
Household Charge Letters Sent To Households Who Paid
Household charge warning letters seeking payment of €127 including a penalty for late payment have been sent to homeowners who have already paid the charge, the Local Government Management Agency has confirmed. The first batch of warning letters to owner-occupiers, believed not to have paid the charge, was issued last week.
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