The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is to be asked to examine the law governing data protection following a student’s legal challenge over the rejection of his complaint about interference with personal privacy by the mass transfer of data by Facebook to the US intelligence services.

State bodies have been warned of a crackdown unless they overhaul the way they treat personal data.

The management, the protection or the sharing of information gathered by the State or private companies on individuals, and that person’s right to easily access that information, are hardly issues that have set current election campaigns alight.

The Data Protection Commissioner has warned state bodies they face a crackdown unless they overhaul the way they treat personal data, accusing them of eroding public trust.

Alan Shatter’s use of Garda information to reveal that the Independent TD, Mick Wallace, had penalty points waived could have consequences, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has indicated.

The data protection commissioner was wrong to refuse to investigate a complaint that the Irish arm of Facebook could not permit the mass transfer of personal data to US intelligence services, it has been claimed.

Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes has said the issues surrounding the Garda tapes “go way behind data protection” and relate to citizens receiving a fair trial.

The Data Protection Commissioner has said he believes gardaí were not aware their calls were being recorded.

The two garda whistle-blowers had “no basis” for continuing to trawl Garda computer data and disclosing it outside the force once they had reported their allegations of malpractice, the State’s data watchdog has said.

Billy Hawkes, the Data Protection Commissioner, has criticised how many public service sectors handle personal data, particularly the Department of Social Protection.

A box of files alleging widespread abuse of the penalty points system will be used as evidence by the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, which is due to question Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan next month.

The data protection commissioner believes the dispute between the Garda chief and the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee will be resolved without any need for the data commissioner to enforce the powers of his office.

A “box of evidence” from a Garda whistleblower alleging abuse of the penalty point system should be covered by parliamentary privilege, according to Transport Minister Leo Varadkar.

WHAT is Martin Callinan afraid of? The Garda Commissioner has written to the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee demanding back files that the committee’s chairman, John McGuinness, has taken possession of and wants examined in public.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has demanded the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee hand over a “box of evidence” provided by a whistleblower alleging widespread abuse of the penalty points system.

Four separate investigations are under way after it emerged the number of customers whose personal and credit card details have been stolen from a web-based company has grown to almost 80,000, with thousands more potentially affected.

Coalition TDs have demanded to know if Alan Shatter has access to secret files on prominent politicians, journalists and public figures, as the controversy surrounding the justice minister continued to escalate.

Sensitive personal data of celebrities, media personalities and sports stars held on Garda computers have been accessed without good reason by individual gardaí, the Data Protection Commissioner has found.

There is a “solemn duty” on Government figures, including Justice Minister Alan Shatter, to protect personal data and not disclose it unless the person affected consents or there is a legal basis, the country’s top data protection chief has said.

A celebrity was looked up more than 80 times on the internal garda database, it has emerged.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said he discovered during a Garda briefing that Independent TD Mick Wallace was stopped for using a mobile phone while driving.

Opening in Texas in 1858, Django Unchained (18s) begins with bounty hunter King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) liberating Django (Jamie Foxx) from slavery, so that Django can identify a trio of brothers Schultz is tracking down.

Once in a while, an actor delivers a performance of such raw emotional power that it’s impossible to tear your eyes from the screen.

Permanent TSB is set to cover the costs for affected customers looking to get accurate personal credit rating reports after admitting that it had, in some cases, supplied wrong information to the Irish Credit Bureau (ICB).

The Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes has said new EU laws due to come into force in January will make it easier to track your personal information online.

New laws to be introduced across the EU from January will give citizens better control of their personal information and make it easier to access, correct, or delete their data.

Councils have been told to do whatever it takes to collect the €100 household charge as anger intensifies over linking the levy to college grant applications.

Solid second-half defending helped Inniscarra to grind out victory over Valley Rovers in the opening round of the Premier IHC at Cloughduv yesterday.

Your personal data is available all over the internet to the scrupulous and not-so scrupulous, writes Conor Ryan

The data commissioner has said his office needs more resources as staff are “stretched beyond the limit”, with 1,161 complaints opened for investigation last year alone.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has been urged to admit he made “a mess” of the controversial household charge.

The Government is to use utility bills to track down anyone who refuses to pay the €100 household charge.

Google received a public dressing down from Ireland’s data protection chief yesterday after the internet giant went ahead with a controversial new privacy policy, despite the requests of regulators across Europe.

Eircom has today reported a potential data breach for customers following the theft of three laptops.

The Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes is calling for better awareness of privacy settings on Facebook and other Social Media sites.

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 has warned that the use of information from utility bills to track down people who have not paid their Household Charge could be open to legal challenge.

AFTER two decades of reports from Government and various agencies on what direction the Burren area should take, locals are taking the future of the landmark into their own hands.

THE Ballyvaughan community yesterday urged Clare County Council “to be done with it” and restore the iconic Ballyvaughan tourist sign.

THE National Roads Authority has said its offer to re-instate an iconic tourism landmark it stripped down in the Burren in controversial circumstances was turned down by Clare county council.

SCHOOLS that are unable to justify their use of CCTV will be ordered to remove it, the Data Protection Commissioner has warned.

Significant breaches of data protection legislation have been uncovered in the insurance sector.

APPLE has been called upon to explain why iPhones and iPads are collecting data on the location of their owners by Data Commissioner Billy Hawkes.

The mean streets, the depressing projects, the endless variety of crime, the downbeat mix of cops, all with their own anxt … a tough, gritty, strongly character-driven drama brought home in style by an outstanding cast of big hitters.