Privacy statement

Údarás na Gaeltachta respects the rights of all users of our online services and we take your privacy very seriously. This privacy policy outlines how we collect and use information when you use our website and social media accounts.
Here you can find information on:

 

  • When Údarás na Gaeltachta may deal with your personal information
  • How the personal information will be dealt with
  • Your rights about your personal information
  • Social media and third party websites
  • Sensitive personal information
  • Cookie policy

 

Who is issuing this notice and why

Údarás na Gaeltachta’s functions are set out in section 8 of the Údarás na Gaeltachta Act 1979 [“Principal Act”] as amended by the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1999 [“1999 Act”] and by the Gaeltacht Act 2012 [“2012 Act”]. The amended version, for example, refers to the promotion of the Gaeltacht’s language, cultural, social, physical and economic development, and to providing assistance to organisations in relation to developing Irish language plans, within the meaning of Part 2 of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 for the Gaeltacht.

Údarás na Gaeltachta is the statutory body that manages and supports the work necessary for Údarás na Gaeltachta to operate.

The address of Údarás na Gaeltachta is Na Forbacha, Co Galway. Údarás na Gaeltachta’s data protection officer will be your usual point of contact about the matters that this privacy policy relates to.
Údarás na Gaeltachta is issuing this privacy policy because of its duties under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force on May 25th 2018. This privacy policy applies from that date.

Data protection officer

If you have any concerns or queries about how your personal data is processed via this website, please do not hesitate to contact our data protection officer:

Údarás na Gaeltachta
Na Forbacha
Co Galway
H91 TY22
acs@udaras.ie

Controller and processor explained

To describe what will happen to your personal information when you use the website www.udaras.ie, Údarás na Gaeltachta needs to tell you about a couple of legal terms.

Usually Údarás na Gaeltachta decides what happens to your personal information, and how it is dealt with. Údarás na Gaeltachta is then known as the controller of the personal information. Údarás na Gaeltachta is the controller of your personal information if, for example, you provide the personal information for a general/business enquiry. Sometimes Údarás na Gaeltachta retains processors to deal with personal information on its behalf. Indeed, sometimes these sub-contract to so-called sub-processors. Each of these is bound by contract with Údarás na Gaeltachta to safeguard your personal information, and your privacy and other rights associated with it.

Authority and permission to use personal information – relevant conditions

Údarás na Gaeltachta (An tÚdarás) is setting out in this privacy policy the grounds on which it will deal with personal information belonging to you and to other people, along with some common examples. An tÚdarás is also letting you know what conditions apply (often to protect your privacy) to how it can deal with personal information. If unusual circumstances arise not covered by this privacy notice, An tÚdarás will communicate with you specifically about these.

When you visit www.udaras.ie

When you visit udaras.ie some information is automatically retrieved about your visit to the website. The information that may be retrieved includes:

 

  • your IP address (this is the identifying details for your computer (or your internet company’s computer), expressed in internet protocol (IP) code (for example 192.168.72.34). Every computer connected to the web has a unique IP address, although the address may not be the same every time a connection is made.
  • the search terms you used
  • the pages you accessed on the website and the links you clicked
  • the date and time you visited the site
  • the referring site (if any) through which you clicked through to this site
  • your operating system (for example, Windows or Mac)
  • the type of web browser you use (for example, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox)
  • other information like your screen resolution and the language setting of your browser.

 

This statistical information will be viewable by Údarás na Gaeltachta staff, contractors or third parties who provide administration and/or support services for the website. The information is used to produce summary reports on usage and performance of An tÚdarás’s online services, and to help it to analyse and improve the website content and functionality. An tÚdarás does not use any of the information above to identify visitors personally. The information is used in aggregate form only.

When you provide email details to Údarás na Gaeltachta

When you provide your email address to An tÚdarás in connection with something that An tÚdarás can do for you as controller, An tÚdarás will only use that personal information for the purpose described on the website. Stricter rules apply to some types of personal information which may be described as sensitive personal information. The type of personal information you are likely to give An tÚdarás will tend not to be sensitive.

These principles apply in general terms to you too. You will sometimes be a controller of personal information jointly with An tÚdarás. We expect that personal information we receive will also be consistent with the purpose for which the email link is provided. If it is not, we will usually deal with it by deleting it.

In the overwhelming majority of instances where An tÚdarás deals with your personal information because you use the website, An tÚdarás will deal with that personal information on the basis of your consent. If you are asking An tÚdarás to deal with sensitive personal information, An tÚdarás will usually need your consent to be very specific and in writing. You may consent on behalf of a person under the age of 18 if you have parental responsibility for that person (this includes, for example, a legal guardian). You are allowed to withdraw your consent at any time. This won’t affect how An tÚdarás has already dealt with the personal information, but An tÚdarás won’t be able to deal with the personal information any more. In the case of email alerts, you will always have a clear mechanism to remove yourself from future mailings. You can withdraw your consent at least as easily as the way you gave it (for example, if you gave consent electronically, you may withdraw it electronically).

Other grounds for dealing with personal information

There are other grounds on which An tÚdarás will deal with your personal information, although they are unlikely to arise in the context of using the website. For example, An tÚdarás will deal with your personal information where the law requires it to do so. An tÚdarás, as a public body, is subject to the Freedom of Information Act and, although the type of personal information you provide in using the website tends to be exempt from disclosure under that Act, exemption can’t be guaranteed. An tÚdarás will also need to deal with your personal information if you exercise rights under data protection law. An tÚdarás will deal with your personal information where this is necessary to establish (including investigate), exercise, or defend a legal claim, including by disclosing it to its legal advisers and in proceedings before any relevant court, tribunal, arbitrator, mediator, or similar entity. An tÚdarás is allowed to deal with a person’s personal information in order to protect the vital interests of the person or of some other person. An tÚdarás may deal with personal information in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority.

How the personal information will be dealt with

The type of personal information you give An tÚdarás as a controller is normally kept within An tÚdarás, but there are exceptions. For example, An tÚdarás uses a processor to deal with your personal information where this is needed to deliver to you email alerts to which you have subscribed.
Rarely, your personal information may be disclosed to An tÚdarás’s legal advisers, or to other people or bodies connected with a legal dispute, or to An Garda Síochána.

Transfer of information to third countries

Personal information An tÚdarás deals with and to which this privacy policy applies will more often than not be kept within the EU, but the transfer to a subprocessor based outside the EU is an exception. There may be others from time to time. Special provision is made in any contract between An tÚdarás and a processor outside the EU, or a processor which uses a sub-processor outside the EU, to safeguard your personal information, and your privacy and other rights in respect of it.

Retention of information

An tÚdarás will keep personal information only as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this privacy notice, in accordance with its retention schedule, or as required by law, whichever is the longest. So, for example, personal information you give An tÚdarás in connection with email alerts is kept so long as you are a subscriber, but is deleted once you unsubscribe. Media queries are kept for five years.

Further dealing with information

It would be rare for An tÚdarás to deal with personal information for a purpose other than the purpose for which it received the information. If An tÚdarás does need to deal with the information in any further way, it will let you know before the dealing takes place.

Your rights about your personal information

You may ask An tÚdarás for a copy of your personal information. You may ask An tÚdarás to supplement or correct your personal information if it is incomplete or incorrect (including out of date). You may be able to ask An tÚdarás to delete personal information, especially if you have withdrawn consent to An tÚdarás’s dealing with it or An tÚdarás no longer needs it, or not to deal with it for the time being, for example, if you think it is incorrect. If An tÚdarás is dealing with your personal information on the basis of your consent, you can normally require An tÚdarás to forward it on to some other person named by you. You may object at any time to An tÚdarás’s dealing with personal information it is dealing with in the exercise of official authority or in the public interest, although this entitlement is subject to many legal qualifications depending on the personal information and why An tÚdarás is dealing with it. You are entitled not to be subject to automated decision making, including profiling.

Redress

If you are not content with how An tÚdarás is dealing with your personal information, you may bring your dissatisfaction to the attention of the Data Protection Commissioner.

Social media

An tÚdarás maintains a presence on several social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Vimeo. Any information, communications, or materials you submit to An tÚdarás by way of a social media platform is done at your own risk without any expectation of privacy. An tÚdarás cannot control the actions of other users of these platforms or the actions of the platforms themselves. Your interactions with those features and platforms are governed by the privacy policies of the companies that provide them.

Third party websites

The website includes links to other websites. These third party websites have their own privacy policies, and are also likely to use cookies. An tÚdarás encourages you to carefully read the privacy policy of any website you visit.

Sensitive personal information

Sensitive personal information means personal information about a person’s

 

  • race
  • ethnic background
  • political opinions
  • religion
  • philosophical beliefs
  • membership of a trade union
  • genes (biological inheritance)
  • biometric data (such as fingerprints on a passport)
  • health
  • sex life
  • sexual orientation
  • alleged commission of criminal offences
  • criminal convictions
  • being subject to security measures related to criminal offences or convictions