All political parties asked to explain social media activities and databases

Use of electoral register information has come under scrutiny 

Sinn Fein spokesperson on housing Eoin O Broin said the party is "very keen to continue engagement" with the Data Protection Commission on how the party targets people on Facebook and whether it gathers more information than is necessary while doing so. Photo:Gareth Chaney/Collins

All political parties are to be invited to an Oireachtas committee to discuss their social media activities and information databases.

The move follows a request from Fine Gael senator John Cummins to the chair of the Housing and Local Government committee, Green Party TD Steven Matthews, that Sinn Féin be asked to explain the use of its Abú database.