Review of publishing names of ‘new citizens’ took place in 2011

A review of the practice of publishing the names and addresses of new Irish citizens in the government’s official gazette was carried out in 2011 and it was decided to continue with it.

Concerns were expressed by a migrant support group and by a prominent digital rights body last week after it emerged the names of 25,000 citizens had been published in Iris Oifigiúil and were searchable on the internet.

Digital Rights Ireland, which took a successful case before the European Court of Justice that resulted in the striking down of the EU's directive on the retention of the phone and internet records of millions of citizens, said the practice was in breach of EU law.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said on Tuesday she understood the concerns of people about the indefinite posting online of the names and full addresses of all those who are given Irish citizenship.

Some addresses have been online for up to 10 years. One new Irish citizen expressed horror at discovering her full address online.

The Dáil record shows that on October 1st last year, Labour Party TD Joe Costello asked Ms Fitzgerald if she would ensure that all those who had received a certificate of naturalisation from her department were registered in Iris Oifigiúil "in a timely manner".

Ms Fitzgerald said that following publication in 2011 of the notice of those naturalised between January 2009 and June 2009, a review was begun after “a number of persons who were naturalised expressed concern about the publication of personal details”.

"As part of this review new arrangements were put in place with the Office of Public Works, who are responsible for Iris Óifigiúil, that ensure continued compliance with the law.

“As the Deputy may be aware, publication was resumed in September this year in respect of persons naturalised from July 2009 to December 2009.”

Ms Fitzgerald said it was intended to publish the notices in respect of those granted a certificate of naturalisation in 2010 and 2011 by the end of last year, with 2012 and 2013 grants being published during 2015.

A spokeswoman for the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland said last weekend her organisation was "astounded" the Government had made this information easily accessible.

“[It] is a clear breach of privacy, and the Government can provide no assurances that the data will not be used maliciously. It’s completely unjustifiable.”

The Department of Justice has insisted the publication in such a format was mandated by law under a 1956 Act and a 2011 statutory instrument. This statutory instrument was signed by then minister for justice Alan Shatter just days before the first citizenship ceremony took place in June 2011.

The Data Protection Commissioner has said the processing of personal information in this manner is exempt from the provisions of the Data Protection Acts as it was required by statute.