A Department of Health whistleblower has welcomed a Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) decision to issue a fine and ban the practice of collecting excessive sensitive information on children with autism who took legal cases against the State.
Shane Corr raised concerns within the Department in 2020 when he discovered he had access to extremely sensitive files on children and families who took High Court cases to secure their right to special needs educational services.
In a subsequent RTÉ Investigates report broadcast in March 2021 it emerged that in preparing High Court defences against these long-running cases the Department had sought information from co-defendants such as the Health Service Executive (HSE).
During periodic communications, broad questions from the Department elicited replies on sensitive personal matters, which were gathered and retained.
These included details of private family records, insights on the martial situation of parents and even details of a confidential doctor's consultation.
In her decision on Monday, the Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, fined the Department 22,500, she reprimanded it for its behaviour, and banned it from continuing the practice.
In a statement to RTÉ Investigates, Mr Corr welcomed the development.
"The decision from the DPC is very welcome. The Department of Health secretly gathered sensitive information on the most vulnerable children and their families. It was wrong then and it is wrong now."
"In this case...
A man waits to enter the Safeworks supervised consumption site at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre in Calgary in this August 2021 file photo. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is bru...