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30/03/2015
FF Bring Legislation To Stop Councils Handing Over Tenant Data
Fianna Fáil are to publish legislation that will seek to prohibit local authorities from handing over tenant data to Irish Water, without expressing consent.
Under the Water Service Act 2013, the government made it a legal requirement for local authorities to hand over tenant data to the water company.
Fianna Fáil want to amend the Act to make it a legal requirement for authorities to seek the consent of the people concerned before any information is exchanged.
Deputy Sean Fleming said: "A number of local authorities have written to councillors in recent days to advise that tenant information has been handed over to Irish Water. The information is being handed over without the consent of tenants and little to no consultation is taking place with the locally elected councillors.
"In the case of Wexford County Council the details of over 4,000 local authority tenants was handed over to despite councillors having already passed a motion prohibiting the council from handing over tenant data to Irish Water. However the information was passed over as the government made it a legal requirement under the Water Services Act 2013 for local authorities to pass on the information to Irish Water.
"Fianna Fáil is opposed to the practice of local authorities handing over sensitive tenant data to Irish Water. During the debate on the Water Services Bill 2013 we voted to deny access to data requests by Irish Water. Semi-state companies in Ireland are not entitled to seek tenant data from local authorities and no exception should be made for Irish Water.
"The legislation we are bringing forward will amend Section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 to ensure that tenant information is not handed over to the council without the consent of the people concerned.
"It is unacceptable that Irish Water is extracting sensitive information from local authorities without the consent of either the individual concerned or elected representatives. The situation is inherently undemocratic and the practice of handing over information without consent must end."
(MH/CD)
Under the Water Service Act 2013, the government made it a legal requirement for local authorities to hand over tenant data to the water company.
Fianna Fáil want to amend the Act to make it a legal requirement for authorities to seek the consent of the people concerned before any information is exchanged.
Deputy Sean Fleming said: "A number of local authorities have written to councillors in recent days to advise that tenant information has been handed over to Irish Water. The information is being handed over without the consent of tenants and little to no consultation is taking place with the locally elected councillors.
"In the case of Wexford County Council the details of over 4,000 local authority tenants was handed over to despite councillors having already passed a motion prohibiting the council from handing over tenant data to Irish Water. However the information was passed over as the government made it a legal requirement under the Water Services Act 2013 for local authorities to pass on the information to Irish Water.
"Fianna Fáil is opposed to the practice of local authorities handing over sensitive tenant data to Irish Water. During the debate on the Water Services Bill 2013 we voted to deny access to data requests by Irish Water. Semi-state companies in Ireland are not entitled to seek tenant data from local authorities and no exception should be made for Irish Water.
"The legislation we are bringing forward will amend Section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 to ensure that tenant information is not handed over to the council without the consent of the people concerned.
"It is unacceptable that Irish Water is extracting sensitive information from local authorities without the consent of either the individual concerned or elected representatives. The situation is inherently undemocratic and the practice of handing over information without consent must end."
(MH/CD)
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