Data Protection Policy

The policy of the Equality Tribunal in relation to the implementation of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 is to:

• Implement the key responsibilities contained in the Data Protection legislation which can be summarised in terms of the following eight Rules"rules". (Click on link to www.dataprivacy.ie data controller obligations)

• Safeguard the privacy rights of individuals.

• Protect the personal data that we collect, process and retain.

• Release personal data under the Data Protection Acts only when permitted by law.

• Manage, co-ordinate and develop, in an effective manner, the implementation of Data Protection legislation in the Tribunal. This includes the management of responses to access requests, the restricting of access where required, and ongoing communication between the Data Protection Unit and colleagues to ensure that particular practices, proposals and developments are fully compliant with Data Protection legislation.

• Liaise and co-operate with and support the Data Protection Commissioner's Office on issues affecting Data Protection in the Equality Tribunal.

• Liaise with other Government Departments/Offices on Data Protection matters of mutual interest.

• Ensure that the Equality Tribunal staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts and assist in the training of staff.

• Liaise with the Data Protection Commissioner's Office for guidance on specific cases and the transfer of personal data abroad.

Data Protection in the Equality Tribunal

The Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 confer rights on individuals in regard to the privacy of their personal data as well as responsibilities on those persons holding and processing such data.

The Equality Tribunal is subject to both of these Acts. The Data Protection Acts set out the rights of individuals and also the responsibilities of those, including the Equality Tribunal, who hold the data. The Equality Tribunal holds data on all complainants. This data can be either personal data or non-personal data. Personal data for Data Protection purposes refers to data of a living individual. This data can be held on computers or in manual files. The person in the Equality Tribunal with responsibility for meeting our obligations under the Acts is called the Data Controller.

The Data Protection Commissioner's Website offers an explanation of the rights and responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts (http://www.dataprotection.ie) and information is also available from the Data Protection Commissioner's Office at:
Station Road
Portarlington
Co Laois.

You can contact the Data Protection Commissioner's Office by email (info@dataprotection.ie) or by phone

Making a Data Protection Access Request to the Equality Tribunal

You can make a data protection access request in writing to the Equality Tribunal at the address shown below or by e-mailing info@equalitytribunal.ie. Your request should be as specific as is possible to enable us to identify where the particular data is held. A response to your access request will issue to you as soon as is possible and in any event within forty days.

There are certain exemptions contained in the Data Protection Acts that restrict the right of access and allow for a refusal of a request. An appeal against a refusal can be made direct to the Data Protection Commissioner.

If you have any enquiries concerning Data Protection in the Equality Tribunal please contact us at 01 4774100, by email at info@equalitytribunal.ie or by writing to the Data Controller in the Equality Tribunal.

Data Controller in the Equality Tribunal

The nominated Data Controller in the Equality Tribunal is:

Martin Kehoe
Clonmel Street,
Dublin 2.