[article] Rail firm fined after complaint

[Mark Gleeson]

Rail firm fined after complaint
Monday June 23 2008

IARNROD Eireann has become the first company in the State to be prosecuted and found guilty of failing to co-operate with an investigation by the Data Protection Commissioner, writes Edel Kennedy.

The company was fined €500 earlier this month after being found guilty in Dublin District Court of failing to respond to an Information Request from the Commissioner. The company also ignored all requests and calls asking for information on foot of a complaint from a member of the public.

And other companies were warned that they too could find themselves in the courts if they do not comply with future investigations.

"I am disappointed in any case where my office has to go to court to get answers to some questions as part of an investigation," said Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes.

A spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann conceded that there had been a "breakdown in communication" and it had failed to supply the information when asked to do so.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rail-firm-fined-after-complaint-1418841.html

[Mark Gleeson]

Is anyone surprised? As we all know the unwritten policy is to suppress everything negative

[Mark Hennessy]

Is anyone surprised? As we all know the unwritten policy is to suppress everything negative

Unless you can get a politician on your side.

[Mark Gleeson]

The full statement from the Data Protection Commissioner

http://www.dataprotection.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=744&m=f

We previously have threatened filing a complaint with the Data Protection Commissioner concerning Irish Rail's failure to meet its obligations. Curiously as soon as we started to quote the act action was taken.

Irish Rail seem to have more communication breakdowns than train breakdowns.

[tigger1962]

I actually heard about this on the news last week :eek: I'm surprised it took so long to receive attention

[Colm Moore]

Do we know what the original complaint was?

-----------------------------------

So I got an e-mail from the RPA today about the Metro West Public Consultation - St Brigid's Well.‏ They included the e-mail addresses of several dozen people. I presume several dozen people also got my e-mail address.

Now it is public consultation and I suspect those address are or will end up being on the public record, but thats not the way to do things.

EDIT: pic attached.

[Thomas Ralph]

That would also be a violation of the Data Protection Act. You can report it if you care - www.dataprotection.ie for details.