My question to the Data Protection Commissioner was very simple – do citizens have the right to know the names of politicians who are in breach of the Litter Pollution Act.
The reply from the Data Commissioner is equally clear:
No, citizens do not have any such right. In other words, when a politician breaks the law it becomes a state secret.
The Commissioner’s full reply:
Dear Mr Sheridan
I refer to your recent email to this Office.
In relation to your query,
There is no basis for publishing names of individuals fined in such circumstances.
The introduction of legislation providing for such publication is not a matter for this Office.
Informing you of political parties who have been fined rather than specific individuals would be a matter for the Council to reply to (as it refers to
organisations, not specific individuals) but we are not aware that they
would be under any obligation to release that information.Yours Sincerely
So do we know whether it was individuals or political parties were prosecuted?
No, we know nothing and, apparently, we’re not entitled to any information. We just have to trust the machine