MINISTER FOR Justice Dermot Ahern will ask his EU counterparts to back Ireland in moves to definitively block the transfer to Israel and storage there of sensitive personal data on European citizens.
The Minister accepted that only a qualified majority of member states was required to endorse a European Commission initiative to declare that the EU recognises Israeli data protection standards as being sufficient to allow member states to transfer such personal data to Israel.
He said, however, that it was important to “make the point” in relation to Ireland’s opposition to the measure given the use of eight fake Irish passports by the alleged Israeli assassins of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai last January.
“Having had experience of how the EU deals with Israel, particularly in the context of the Lebanese conflict when I was in foreign affairs, I’m acutely aware of how some of the bigger member states tend to talk tough but then when the comes to action they don’t take action,” he told The Irish Times.
Without the EU declaration, the transfer of data to Israel is prohibited. The declaration was set to take effect automatically a fortnight ago by way of a written procedure before the Government objected.
With EU ministers set for formal discussion on the measure in September, Mr Ahern said he would campaign among his counterparts for support for his view.
“I think the British would have to have some concerns given the fact that there was identity fraud as well of their citizens by and on behalf of Israel.” The Minister said “no” when asked whether he had heard anything from Israel thus far that would give him any reassurance.
“I do think the point needs to be made strongly that we need to get absolute assurances from any state outside the EU that we transfer data to that it’s going to be used in accordance with law,” he said. “It could be passed by qualified majority, but I do think we’ll use the period in between this and then to talk to as many people as possible.”
Asked if there was anything the Israeli authorities could say that would reassure him, Mr Ahern said: “That’s a matter that would have to be dealt with at diplomatic level between our foreign minister and theirs.
“But I think it’s important that we put down a marker, which we have, that given the history [we in] Ireland are worried.”