Issue 649
Public Affairs Ireland
The Trusted Provider of Professional Learning and Development for the Public and Private Sector. www.pai.ie
Welcome to PAI's weekly newsletter
This week’s update on public sector news featuring?a range of topical updates to include:
A comprehensive blog article regarding the specifics of Data Subject Access Requests and what they involve.
The Minister for Public Expenditure announcing?a new government initiative aimed at supporting SME participation in public procurement.
A discussion on the environmental impact of bottled water.
An announcement this week?that primary schools are?to get €96 per pupil for free books but they can no longer ask parents to pick up tab for book-related expenses.
A Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) is a request made by an individual, known as the data subject, to an organisation or data controller to obtain information about what personal data the organization holds about them. This request is made under data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States.
DSARs are an important tool for individuals to exercise control over their personal data, and to ensure that organisations are processing their data lawfully and transparently. Organisations have a legal obligation to respond to DSARs within a specified time frame, typically one month, and must provide the requested information free of charge, unless the request is unfounded, excessive or repetitive.
DSARs can also include requests to rectify or erase personal data, restrict its processing, or object to its processing. These requests must also be responded to within the same time frame and in accordance with the relevant data protection laws.
A DSAR typically includes details such as the type of personal data collected, the purpose for which it is being processed, the categories of recipients who have received or will receive the data, and the length of time the data will be retained. The data subject also has the right to request the correction or deletion of any inaccurate or outdated personal data held about them....
PAI regularly runs training sessions in DSARs to register your interest in the next upcoming date email?[email protected]
18th, 19th, 25th, 26th April 2023
9.30am – 1.00pm, Online
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
09:30 am – 1:00 pm, Online
New guidance aims to make it easier for SMEs to compete for Government contracts
The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. brought to Cabinet yesterday, Tuesday 21st March, 2023 a new government initiative aimed at supporting SME participation in public procurement.
This initiative will act as an update to previous guidance, which introduced a number of measures aimed at assisting SMEs to access public procurement opportunities.
In the context of the Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting SMEs to compete for public contracts, the?Office of Government Procurement (OGP)?was asked to undertake a review of the current guidance for public bodies. The results of this review highlighted the need for updated guidance for public bodies on measures to assist SMEs to access public procurement opportunities.
The circular sends an important signal of the Government’s commitment to support SMEs so that they can compete for public procurement contracts as set out in the?Programme for Government "Our Shared Future".
It builds on the work already taking place across Government, for example, through the SME Advisory Group chaired by Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment, Ossian Smyth, and through the SME & Entrepreneurship Taskforce chaired by Minister Simon Coveney, which has identified promoting the participation of SMEs in public procurement as one of its ten priorities.
The new guidance includes:
Commencing May 9th 2023
9.30am – 4.00pm, Online
19th, 20th, 25th and 26th April 2023
9.30am – 12.30pm each day, Online
Bottled water's reputation in Europe as a luxury item which tastes better and is cleaner than tap water should be challenged, scientists have said in a?new UN report. The bottled water industry is booming, after?a 73% increase?across 2010-2020. This increase is adding pressure to dwindling groundwater supplies in Europe, and elsewhere, according to researchers. The plastic used in the bottles is also contributing to pollution. The report authors argue that alternatives for the packaging should be found and that more robust water policies should be enacted globally.
Every minute, more than one million bottles of water are sold globally. The industry is one of the fastest growing in the world, with a 73% increase in sales from between 2010 and 2020. But in a world of increased drought events and plastic-related pollution, the UN has raised concerns ahead of World Water Day on Wednesday.
While agriculture remains the largest consumer of groundwater, many bottled water companies also use this as a source across Europe, adding pressure to this supply, the UN argues. European groundwater supplies have remained low since 2019, due to repeated drought events, with one Austrian study concluding that "the water situation has become very precarious".
领英推荐
5th April 2023
10.00am – 12.00pm, Online
April 21st, 28th and May 5th, 2023
9.30am – 4.30pm, Online
Primary schools to get €96 per pupil for free books but can no longer ask parents to pick up tab for book-related expenses.
Primary schools are prohibited from asking parents to pay any money for school books under the guise of a higher voluntary contribution, on top of the €96 per pupil being awarded under a landmark initiative.
Education Minister Norma Foley warned again the practice today, as she launched the free primary books scheme for primary pupils.
It is the first time the State has funded books, including workbooks and copybooks, for all primary pupils and 558,000 will benefit in September.
There would be “absolutely” no question of schools using the voluntary contribution to top up the State book grant, the minister said today.
She said the money being provided for each pupil was higher than the €85 which has been paid in a pilot initiative involving 102 schools, experience from which informed the new scheme.
The scheme will be effective from September and schools have received detailed guidance on how it should operate....
Tuesday, March 28th, 2023
10.00am – 3.00pm, Online
Workshop
Wednesday 19th April 2023
10.00am – 12.00pm, Online
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