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THREE INSURANCE COMPANIES have pleaded guilty to breaches of Ireland’s data protection law, after using the services of a private investigator who illegally accessed information from within the Department of Social Protection.
FBD, Travellers and Zurich had used the services of an investigator which had sourced data from a member of staff within the Department.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner said the office had been first notified about a possible breach in December 2010.
An inspection of the investigator’s offices uncovered social welfare data, which was being passed on to the three insurers. This was later confirmed by other inspections at the premises of each insurer.
The data of hundreds of social welfare recipients was being inappropriately shared, the spokeswoman said, saying it appeared there had been a “longstanding arrangement” between the rogue member of Department staff and the private investigator.
TheJournal.ie understands that a Garda investigation is underway into how the individual Department employee accessed and shared the data with the investigator.
In a statement the Department said it took its responsibility under Data Protection legislation “very seriously”.
The Department said it “takes a very serious view of breaches of its information security policies and procedures which are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.”
It added that it did not comment on individual cases.
The three insurers have agreed to donate €20,000 each to charity. The DPC said the three companies had co-operated fully with their inquiries.
To hell with the civil service code of conduct, this individual, the PI and those who commissioned them should all be on trial and facing prison.
100%
Aaron
There names should also be published….
€20,000 charitable donation each, write that off against there tax, so that was money well spent. Well done justice system you showed them a real deterrent ;/
Presumably if it wasn’t written off against tax they could simply pay for their crime by charging more in premiums. It’s a win win situation.
What in the name of God is wrong with this country..
Fraud and corruption=Wrap on the knuckles..
TV licence not paid = JAIL
damien c
You are being sarcastic ??
I am beginning to sound old …. What is happening to this country ?
2010 ……
it is now 2012
Quick on the uptake eh ?
Ah sure they were busy Eileen, you know how it is,
This is absolutely disgraceful. Whoever this corrupt criminal civil servant is should be named and shamed right away. Of course nobody will be held accountable and he or she will probably be promoted.
Dave we can’t possibly do that to one of the “boys” could we, we may even put his bonus for turning up for work in danger.
And to add insult to injury the Department of Social Welfares response is “we don’t comment on individual cases”. What a load of bullshit. These idiots are public servants who are in a job purely to serve us the public – not to protect criminals.
Yeah that’s a great idea, prejudice any trial before it can even get started.
Fair play to you if you think someone will be brought to trial over this.
Ah yes! The corporate machine does what it likes. Bring back public hangings for these criminals. Like to see “Gary”explain this one!
A bit over the top Karl
I call for the names of the employees to be published and for them to lose their jobs. This is what would happen in the private sector.
And Vodafone got hit with a €400,000 penalty today for over charging roaming charges..
Ten times the amount theses guys are going to pay…
The mind boggles
I wonder if this person is related to a politician as most are in the service? I also wonder if the details were belonging to a TD like Enda or Raoire would they be treated the same way?
have your say