RED-FACED ministers were forced to promise worried householders their private data would be safe after the controversial homes tax got off to an embarrassing beginning.

THE Data Protection Commissioner is to launch an audit into data security in the Department of Social and Family Affairs after it emerged that a civil servant had passed on confidential information to his brother, who later used it for criminal purposes.

AIRLINES flying out of Ireland with passengers whose final destination is the United States have been warned to state clearly what information will be passed on to the American authorities.

The Data Protection Office has reported a 78% increase in complaints last year, most of them against the Government, local authorities, marketing and financial services firms.