I don’t think there is anyone who hates GDPR as much as I do... It’s the greatest load of nonsense’
MEMBERS OF WEXFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL AND ROSSLARE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT WERE INFORMED ABOUT A NEW SYSTEM FOR REQUESTING SENSITIVE INFORMATION, WITH SOME ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES FAR FROM IMPRESSED WITH THE CHANGES
Wexford councillors requesting sensitive information from the local authority will have to fill out a form in future, containing a consent signature from constituents in certain cases.
Members of Wexford Borough District Council were informed that Wexford is one of the last local authorities in the country to introduce the system which is required under GDPR regulations, with guidelines having been sent out by the Data Protection Commissioner in 2018.
The form can be filled out online on a councillors’ support portal or in paper form and a constituent’s signature will be required in cases where sensitive personal data such as financial details are requested.
Section 40 of the Data Protection Act, 2018 controls the processing of personal data by councillors making representations on behalf of constituents and makes them responsible for safeguarding data and keeping records.
Acting Director of Services Amanda Byrne said the GDPR system has been operating in other local authorities since 2019 but was not fully in place in Wexford until now. ‘We were late bringing it in. We are doing it now and we have initiated the members’ portal system at the same time’, she said.
‘In order to make representations, you have to fill in one of these forms, to be put through the portal. It’s to safeguard us and to safeguard you’, she said, adding that 90% of councillors’ queries will not require a form, as they won’t involve personal data.
Data Protection Officer Anita McLoughlin said the online support system for councillors has had a chequered history but it is designed to be user-friendly and the local authority is investing in the system.
‘We would ask you to work with us to help us develop it further. We have already made improvements based on the feedback we have received.’
In relation to the data protection form, she said: ‘We are one of the last to bring it in and it’s important that we do it as quickly as possible.’
Asking councillors to nominate a member to sit on a local authority committee, Ms. McLoughlin said ideally it should be ‘someone who thinks this is the worst idea ever.’
‘I was certainly a critic of the old one and if that makes me a candidate, I don’t mind’, said Cllr. John Hegarty.
‘I don’t think there is anyone who hates this idea of GDPR as much as I do. It’s the greatest load of nonsense of all time, that we can’t be trusted’, said Cllr. David Hynes.
‘I blame the Government. I believe they don’t want councillors to have a say in anything. It’s all a side show. I would never breach the confidentiality of a constituent.’
Cllr. Hynes said he couldn’t download the app the last time he tried, and he would have to have some training in it, from ‘someone I can see’ rather than online.
Ms. McLoughlin said: ’We want to be able to give you the information you require but I have to have a system that shows the members have consent and the portal is the system we have put in place to do that.
‘It is estimated, based on experience around the country, that only 10% of the queries that councillors make, will require a form.’
Cllr. Tom Forde said the members’ portal system works well but there are a lot of generic responses to queries which could be improved on. ‘You would probably get more information over the phone, whereas there seems to be a reluctance to give out information if it is in writing, I suppose’.
Ms. McLoughlin said if there is an issue with generic answers, she would wish to stamp it out. ‘You have to be getting the information. If you have an issue, let me know and I will see if there is a reason behind it.’
It was agreed that Cllr. Hegarty would be the councillors’ nominee.
I BLAME THE GOVERNMENT. I BELIEVE THEY DON’T WANT COUNCILLORS TO HAVE A SAY IN ANYTHING. IT’S ALL A SIDE SHOW. I WOULD NEVER BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF A CONSTITUENT – CLLR DAVY HYNES