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THE OFFICE OF the Data Protection Commission has said it had “categorically” never been lobbied by former taoiseach Enda Kenny or his office.
The statement comes after the government has been urged to make a statement after The Observer published claims that former Taoiseach Enda Kenny offered to use Ireland’s position to lobby on behalf of Facebook on EU data legislation.
“I can categorically confirm that our office has never been lobbied by Enda Kenny or his office,” ODPC head of communications Graham Doyle said.
In a statement to reporters, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that it was up to enda Kenny whether he commented on the story, but added that he doesn’t feel Kenny has to.
Varadkar says he gets lobbied all the time from the large multinationals, and that Ireland has a “good relationship” with all big tech companies, but Facebook is no different from the rest.
The article published details from a Facebook memo which described Kenny as a “friend of Facebook” and said that the company had a “great relationship” with the former Taoiseach.
The memo claimed that Kenny stated that Ireland’s presidency of the EU provided “the opportunity to influence the European Data Directive decisions” and that Ireland could also influence other member states, “even though technically Ireland is supposed to remain neutral in this role”.
The memo was reportedly contained in court documents as part of a California court case involving Facebook.
Ireland held the presidency of the EU between January-June 2013 during Kenny’s first term as Taoiseach.
Facebook’s international headquarters are located in Dublin and the article notes the critical role played by Ireland’s data protection commissioner on an EU-wide basis.
In response to the claims made in the article, Fianna Fáil’s enterprise spokesperson Billy Kelleher TD said questions needed to be answered.
“This will require a statement to clarify it (sic) the government and its diplomatic services were being used to lobby other EU member states on behalf of Facebook,” Kelleher tweeted.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Minister for Communications Richard Bruton said that “there’s some things that are absolutely clear”, as he addressed the reports.
“Firstly, there is no watered down rules in Ireland on GDPR. Secondly, it was Enda Kenny himself who dramatically strengthened the powers and resources of the Data Protection Commissioner here in Ireland. Thirdly, both holders of that office have stated that they had no interference from government,” Bruton said.
“I think there’s very strong indication as to the position that Ireland has taken and it has always been that we need strong and fair regulation of these companies,” he said.
“Of course these companies are important players and if they express a view about developing legislation they have to be listened to, just like any other view will be listened to in framing legislation.”
Kenny’s office has been contacted for a statement.
With reporting by Rónán Duffy
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Why did no Irish media outlet investigate this, it’s a huge issue
@Irish Genius: Because any journalist who tries to hold power to account in this state in any meaningful way gets blackballed e.g. Gemma O’Doherty after she broke the story on Martin Callinan.
Instead we get spoonfed stories about leos socks.
@Irish Genius: I’d imagine because Ireland’s version of Donald Trump forbid it.
@The Risen: You mean the Irish Katie Hopkins?
Really clutching at straws.
@Irish Genius: Friends of friends unlike FB lol.
Cue the list (also known as friends of kenny), who will make statements saying they were never lobbied by their “friend” kenny, and thats supposed to make it OK then!
I also think sandberg was playing them, being intentionally extra nice to them when they were supposed to be stern to facebook about their business.
I’ve long said Kenny and the rest of the parasites are rotten to the core, I truly hope someday the truth comes out about what many politicians have done,not to be trusted whatsoever under any circumstances.
@Jonny:
It wouldn’t be a scandal by Irish standards.
FG/FF would sell their Granny’s for a touch of US investment. No problem going to court with the EU on behalf of Apple and the annual tradition of cow towing to the US President in the White House every Paddys day. The 51st state and all of that.
Winky winky backy slappy.
Proudly promoting cronyism since 1926 with a hearty laugh.
Of course they would, wouldn’t they? It is not as if there would be a paper trail to uncover what went on.
As if they were going to say yes he lobbied us…. FFG Out…
Checked the Indo and other online “newspapers” this morning, not a dickiebird about this scandal. Rest assured were it someone remotely connected with SF it would be headline news for a week.
Don’t know what’s all the gasp shock horror for this is the man that sold the country to the lowest bidder ..fn parasite.. .journalism in Ireland haha give me a break…
@Michael Nolan: who did he sell us to … I think we still own Ireland last time I looked it up…
@John Kelly: him and his mate noonan goldman sacs …vulture funds ….did nod off for a decade or 2 ..in a few years you won’t be able to buy a house .have another snooze check back when your proper rested
@John Kelly: The way FG have things running, soon enough, there won’t be a brick, a block, or a blade of grass owned by a native Irish person in the country.
Sniffs the air cos there’s an awful smell of BS all of a sudden
@David Lawlor: Of course there is. It’s always in plentiful supply here at The Journal.
Once again we have to turn to the UK newspapers to tell us whats happening in this rotten little state. Shameful.
@The Risen: no we don’t… it’s a .uk spin pile of shite … rubbish journalism
@John Kelly: ‘A UK pile of shyte” based on court papers? The only shyte is what’s coming from FG supporters
The ODPC enforces laws. I thought the alleged lobbying was at the law-making level?
I’m not a fan of Enda Kenny or a supporter, but remember, this report just happens to come out now, from a pro Brexit anti Irish source. I’ll wait and see how it develops before I condemn Kenny on this issue. There has never been anything in his career to indicate he’s corrupt so even if he did do he most likely was thinking of jobs for the country, like he’s supposed to do.. If it happened, it’s a misjudgenent on his part, but in the interest of fairness let’s wait and see.
@James Wallace: The Observer is a left-wing decidedly anti-Brexit newspaper with a high reputation for accuracy.
Incidentally, it is also generally sympathetic towards Ireland.
@James Wallace: Report actually comes out of Court documents in California, It`s not made up by an pro Brexit and anti Irish source though.
Unless you are privy to info the rest of us aren`t.
@Brendan Greene: James just got schooled…
Of course not blueshirts
If it quacks like a duck,and walks like a duck, ITS A DUCK.
Of course not blueshirts never would they seek to influence
Well in fairness he did say ‘categorically’ so he must be telling the truth.
It would be very hard to ask him anytime now he never in work if I don’t go to work I don’t get paid
He was always alittle weasel cosying up to the Yanks and acting like Darby O Gill in the White House on Paddy’s Day.
@Jonathan Beatty:
“If he were innocent…”
Fair play Jonathan.
Get the slander in immediately.
have your say