Tourism and data protection

Sir, – To promote genealogical tourism, several State bodies continue to place basic records online. In recent days, one such source, the Dublin City Electoral Rolls Register 1937-1964, has been taken offline by Dublin City Archive at the request of the Data Protection Commissioner. The youngest person listed would now be 73, the oldest 100, so many are now deceased. However, in typical Irish fashion the same information is freely available in hard copy at Dublin City Council’s Pearse Street library.

Furthermore, the current national register, with details of all living voters in all electoral districts, is available on the websites of the local authorities.

My American cousins can find me, but not our long-deceased grandfather. Data protection, indeed! – Yours, etc,

BOB FREWEN,

READ MORE

Parknasilla, Co Kerry.