New powers will be given to the data protection commissioner to visit companies to carry out investigations to ensure personal privacy rules are being protected, under legislation to be published shortly.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, is to publish the legislation which strengthens the individual's right to privacy in the next few days, according to a Government source.
The Bill extends data protection rules to certain data on people which is held in manual filing systems.
It sets out conditions for processing personal data, including more stringent controls in relation to sensitive personal data such as physical or mental health, trade union membership, political opinions or religious beliefs, and racial or ethnic origin.
Additional safeguards in relation to direct marketing will be put in place, as will the creation of a new category of sensitive personal data for more rigorous protection.
