Sinn Féin still have a lot of questions to answer over their voter database.
So says Waterford Fine Gael senator, John Cummins.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has now also insisted that Mary Lou McDonald should urgently address concerns around their social media activity and internal voter database.
Yesterday, local Sinn Féin TD, David Cullinane insisted there was nothing untoward about it.
But Senator Cummins says it's significant that the Data Protection Commissioner is investigating:
"You know, this is no longer me or the Tánaiste or other opposition or journalists that are asking questions of Sinn Féin.
"This is the Data Protection Commissioner that is asking questions and I have absolutely no doubt that she'll investigate without fear or favour in relation to this matter, because there are serious questions that have to be answered by Sinn Féin."
Continuing, the local senator claimed that even if it was a version of the electoral register that they were using, it would still be against GDPR to store it in the manner they reportedly have been:
"Article 9 of the GDPR legislation says that data cannot be used in the way that it's being reported as being used, unless explicit consent is given and it must be clear what you're consenting to.
"And there's also the further matter of where this online database is registered. We know that the domain is registered in the United States, but Sinn Féin are refusing to answer questions about where the servers are located."
Deputy Cullinane also told Déise Today yesterday that they were fully compliant and that their party, like every other, is entitled to make use of the electoral register.
However, Senator Cummins says that's not the case:
"There's a big difference between what Sinn Féin have here and the Oireachtas database, which TDs and Senators do have access to.
"Firstly, only people that are members of the Oireachtas, and staff that are employed by a TD or senator, have access to that. Their supporters don't, which clearly would be a breach of its use.
"Staff have to undergo a full day's training in relation to access to the system. It's fully encrypted and password protected by the State."
