Data Protection Act and the role of the Data Protection Commissioner

The Data protection act of 2003 and the Data protection act of 1988 are the cornerstones of data protection in Ireland.

The role of the data protection commissioner in protecting your privacy rights when it comes to data being held about you is critical.

It is important to understand what a data controller and what a data subject is as defined under the legislation. Many data controllers do not understand the vital responsibility that they have when it comes to retaining data on employees, customers etc.

The article below goes into the role of the data protection commissioner, the data protection act and the various forms of redress that you have against data controllers if you feel that they are in breach of data protection law.

For data controllers there may also be a mandatory requirement on them to register as data controllers with the Data Protection commissioner and the three categories of people who may be obliged to register are set out in this article.

Related Data Protection Article

Data protection act-the practical consequences

The data protection commissioner provides good data protection in Ireland and a visit to the website of the data protection commissioner can be a real eye opener when it comes to your data protection rights.

As an employer you should be concerned with other aspects of your role as a data controller such as the usefulness of online backup services which can provide online backups of your valuable data or offsite backup if that is more convenient for you.