The Irish Times obtained email correspondence between the Department of Social Protection and Irish Water, under a Freedom of Information request, which shows staff at the department opposed the transfer of PPS numbers to Irish Water.
The department voiced particular concern about the handing over of children’s PPS numbers.
Elaine Edwards, of the Irish Times, reports:
“Staff in the department questioned the data protection implications of handing over the PPS numbers and their obligations under data protection and official secrets legislation. Secretary general of the department, Niamh O’Donoghue, told staff the utility was to “get nothing” until it wrote to her formally, which it did not do until September 18th – several weeks after it started media advertising and sending out packs to householders.”
“As late as October, an internal department email following a meeting with Irish Water said the utility had given the issue “little thought, so this discussion will go on for a wee while”. It added: “We are making progress as you will see, but DSP objective is to protect its data, its reputation and minimise its commitment while being supportive to IW as directed in the Government decision (on water charges).”
Further to this, Kathy Sheridan, of the Irish Times, was on Today With Sean O’Rourke earlier, along with the other contributors Lorraine Dempsey, Chairperson of the Special Needs Parents Association and Paul Murphy, Anti Austerity Alliance TD for Dublin South West and Brian Hayes, Fine Gael MEP.
During their conversation, Ms Sheridan said:
“I give them [Department of Social Protection] credit for their first impulse was to protect this private data and it’s a sign, it’s yet another sign of what a fiasco Irish Water was from the word go. And this is where I’m totally at one with Paul [Murphy, TD] and the other marchers on Wednesday. If I had joined that March on Wednesday, it would have been to have had Irish Water burned into the ground, quite honestly. I think we do need to start again in some way that actually, as I say, treats us as grown-ups.”
“One of the interesting things that came out of the visit of the Detroit Water Brigade this year, this week, rather, to Dublin was one of its activists said that Detroit – privatisation has been banned in Detroit but one of the things that has come out of that is that half of the city’s department’s revenue, water revenue, goes to pay interest to private bondholders. And that’s something again, I didn’t know this could happen. And that’s because I’m peculiarly innumerate, I suppose, but apart from that, I think, Paul, this is where we need to be….”
All talk over each other and move on to talk about Áras Attracta.
Listen back in full here.
Social Protection staff opposed Irish Water bid for PPS numbers (Elaine Edwards, Irish Times)
Meanwhile, Irish Water protesters continue to protest in Stoneybatter, Dublin 7 this morning…
Pics via Jonny Pardoe
Oh are the dole finally getting a conscience? Probably a result of the recent JobBridge takeover, oh and theyre getting privatized soon too (check their website).
I’m someone whos been in and out of work for 10 years since college. There are some genuinely lovely people who work in S.W. but they are hugely outnumbered by sycophantic lackees who act like youre trying to steal the food out of their childrens mouths. I blame Joan for the relentless cutbacks and for approving a system which rewards employees for cutting peoples benefits.
What rewards?
A friend of mine worked there doing work experience (for free) for 6 months. She said they get incentives and rewards if they have “saved money” by cutting off suspected dole frauds. Apparently they need very little evidence, one guy was cut off because “he looked like he was wearing work pants”
That’s bull jimmy.If that were the case and he appealed? he’d be straight back into payment.Cutting somebodies dole on such flimsy evidence would not save a penny and just create more work.Bull.
Next…
As for rewards or incentives where on earth was your idiotic friend ‘working’.Jimmy,please add something to the post.What a wasted opportunity.
no thanks kev, respect for the person who told me. if you’d ever signed on and been cut off (i have) you’d know theres about a 4 month wait for all appeals. dont bother getting off your high horse mate – its cold down here
If I seem higher than you,it’s just the intelligence.
Jimmy – what the privitization on their website? i dont see anything of the like. genuinely interested to know
i know its “convenient” but cant find the link now… sorry :-(
Firstly, it’s hardly your local dole office that’s deciding whether or not to give PPS numbers to Irish Water, it’s nothing to do with them.
Secondly, ordinary civil servants in social welfare don’t get bonuses or rewards for cutting benefits, that’s just bullshit. They don’t get any bonuses or rewards at all, I call Bullshit on your “friend’s” information.
In fact, in the so-called good times, when Christmas bonuses of up to 100% were being given to people getting the dole, Old Age Pensioners, etc., there were many instances of Social Welfare staff receiving less money in their weekly pay packet then they were “doleing” out to customers.
Definitely 50,000 at that protest, I’d say
No barista or ‘sandwich artist’ jobs to go to?
Only kidding.
A breakfast cereal bar would do very well in Smithfield..
Awful lot of them obscuring their faces there aren’t there.
I was thinking that as well about the covered faces. Surely those involved in “peaceful protest” don’t need to obscure their faces?
Are you referring to the one person (in the last photo), out of six, who is wearing some sort of scarf over his face?
Firstly, it’s bloody freezing out there! These people have been out since circa 6.30am. It was zero and minus one this morning. Wearing a scarf over your face is one way to try to keep warm.
Secondly, and much more importantly, there’s been a number of incidents in recent days where hired private security from Guardex have intimidated local residents joining these pickets/blockades. If I was one of these protesters, I would be wary of letting these private security guards photograph my face. There’s already been reported incidents of them photographing people’s car licence plates and other dodgy “invasive surveillance” tactics.
As a press release that was circulated details:
“One local resident, Mick Mooney, was on his way to work when he was pinned against a wall by three private security guards and told ‘I’ll get you. You don’t know who you’re messing with.’ They then showed him a photo of his car and its number plate.
Several women in the campaign were told by private security that they’d find out where they live.”
This has been reported by thejournal.ie amongst others:
http://www.thejournal.ie/water-protester-assault-stoneybatter-1829867-Dec2014/
Tell them to wear transparent scarves. Barring that, tell them to send off their bloody water forms, the hipsters.
at least 3 obscured faces – accidentally, on purpose, or accidentally on purpose
“Obscuring” your face by scratching or holding a sign – how sinister is that?
Googled your question, got this: http://www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/5-reasons-for-activists-to-cover-their-faces-at-protests/1082/
Maybe they don’t want Dennis O’Brien’s security taking photos of them in their community?
Maybe it’s cold..
The guy in the first picture looks like the guy who owns the rip-off cereal shop in London. Bloody hipsters
Sounds t’me that those Private Security thugs are modelled on the Black n Tans
How?
“I know where you live” type’a stuff