Coalition urged to speed up talks on EU-US data transfer deal

The new president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, which represents some of the Republic’s biggest employers, has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny urging that the Government use its influence to speed up talks on a new EU-US data transfer deal.

The European Court of Justice last year ruled against the “Safe Harbour” agreement between the EU and US that allowed for transatlantic data transfer over fears for the safety of individual citizens’ private information.

Bob Savage, incoming president of the lobby group, on Friday said that the impact of the ruling will be felt from next week as European authorities begin examining companies' data transfer arrangements.

“In the absence of an EU-US agreement, many companies may have to cease such transfers,” he said. Mr Savage warned that this could affect many Irish businesses, from multinationals to smaller enterprises, that do business with the US.

Both trading blocs have begun talks on a new treaty but there are fears that reaching an agreement will take time. Mr Savage said he wrote to Mr Kenny last week urging that a deal is reached quickly.

The chamber president said his organisation was fully aware of the need to protect privacy and to provide for data protection. He argued that a balance needed to be struck between innovation and growth, privacy and public security.

Mr Savage is vice-president of EMC and general manager of its global centre of excellence in Ovens, outside Cork city. He was speaking on Friday to mark his appointment as the chamber's president.