Make a personal data request

You can e-mail us your request to dataprotection@gsoc.ie or write to us at Data Protection Officer, Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, 150 Upper Abbey St, Dublin 1.

You will need to include all of the information below, or we will not be able to process your request.

We will respond to your data access request within 40 days. Usually we will send you our response in the post, but you can collect it from our offices either if you prefer.

Proof of identity

A copy of photographic identification, such as a passport or driver’s licence, and a copy of a recent utility bill, must be submitted with your request. This is because we must be satisfied of your identity before releasing any personal information to you.

Exceptions to your right of access

In some instances, your right to access your personal information is limited by the acts. For example:

  • If the information is kept for the purpose of preventing, detecting or investigating criminal offences, where allowing the right of access would be likely to impede such activities.
  • If the information would be subject to legal professional privilege in court.
  • If the information consists of an opinion about you given in confidence by another person (subject to certain conditions).

Information about other people

GSOC does not have to comply with your access request if it would result in disclosing data about another person, unless that other person has consented to the disclosure. So, if we have a record that contains your personal data as well as another person’s data, unless we have permission from the other person, we may be limited in what data we can give you. We will give you as much of the information as we can, without identifying the other person.

Data Protection Commissioner

Further information on your rights can be found on the Data Protection Commissioner’s website (www.dataprotection.ie). The website also includes contact information for the Data Protection Commissioner and explains how to submit a complaint, if you are not satisfied with our response to your request.