Public Consultation for Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) with Department of Foreign Affairs for the purposes of assisting DFA in verifying that details presented by an applicant for entry to the Foreign Birth Register are authentic and correct

The Data Sharing and Governance Act (DSGA) Framework for sharing data builds upon the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 by setting out a common set of practices for all Public Bodies to follow when they wish to use the Act as their legal basis for sharing data. Under the Framework, Data Sharing Agreements between public bodies for the purpose of sharing personal data will be made available for public consultation for a period of 28 days. [link broken]

This consultation is about a Data Sharing Agreement between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist DFA in verifying that details presented by an applicant for entry to the Foreign Birth Register are authentic and correct.

The Department of Social Protection is intending to enter into a Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019. This consultation is about a Data Sharing Agreement between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to assist DFA in verifying that details presented by an applicant for entry to the Foreign Birth Register are authentic and correct.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintains the Foreign Birth Register (FBR). In order to be entered on the Register, amongst other documentation, an Irish birth certificate must be submitted by an applicant as part of the application process. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the DFA need to verify that the certificate(s) provided are authentic and be satisfied that the information associated with any application provided is correct. In some cases, in order for the DFA to be satisfied that a certificate is authentic, they will request information from the General Register Office in relation to certificates supplied to it by an applicant for entry to the FBR.

The General Register Office, under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is sharing data to assist DFA verify entitlement for entry into the Foreign Birth Register.

You are invited to make submissions by email to consultations.dsa@per.gov.ie

Submissions must include “DSPDFA 012/220819 - Data Sharing Agreement between the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Foreign Affairs - FBR" in the subject line of the email. Only submissions made to this email address by the closing date will be accepted.

The start date for the public consultation is 25 August 2022 and will run for a period of 28 days. The public consultation will end on 22 September 2022. Submissions will not be accepted once the public consultation period has expired.

We will consider your submission and may respond. Where those proposed parties consider it appropriate, they may also amend the proposed agreement to take into account your submissions. A copy of the Data Sharing Agreement and a summary of all submissions will be sent to the Data Governance Board.

The DSGA Data Sharing Playbook which provides a full step-by-step process for data sharing is available on the OGCIO Data Governance website. More information on the Data Governance Board is available on the Data Governance Board website.

• Public Consultation (25 August 2022 - 22 September 2022): DSPDFA 012_Foreign Birth Register Verification
• Data Sharing Agreement