Skip navigation 
Previous Page
12
SERVICES AND ELECTRIC IRELAND
February/March 2012 www.esb.ie/em
Connected World: Data protection - know your rights
DATA PROTECTION and the Data Protection Commissioner have been the subject of several media reports recently in relation to data sharing. We thought it timely for this edition of Connected World to remind staff of the rights granted to them by the Data Protection Acts.
When you give your personal details to an organisation or individual, they have a duty to keep these details private and safe from disclosure. This process is known as ‘data protection’. Most of us give information about ourselves to groups such as government bodies, banks, or insurance companies, etc. in order to use their services or meet our personal legal obligations.
Under data protection law, you have rights regarding the use of these personal details and the bodies controlling this data have certain responsibilities in how they handle this information.
The Data Protection Acts rights apply to your personal information when the information is:
- Held on a computer.
- Held on paper or other manual form as part of a filing system.
- Made up of photographs or video recordings of your image or recordings of your voice.
You have a range of rights when a person or organisation takes and records your personal details. You have the right to;
- Have your details used in line with data protection regulations.
- Gain access to your personal details.
- Know if your personal details are being held.
- Change or remove your personal details.
- Prevent the use of your personal details for other purposes.
- Remove your details from a direct marketing list.
- Decline to allow your details to be used in automated decision making.
- Decline to allow direct marketing calls or mail.
The acts grant these rights to make sure that the information held about you is factually correct, only available to those who should have it and that it is only used for the purposes for which it was gathered.
As we mentioned earlier the acts not only grant rights to you, but they also place considerable responsibilities on bodies processing your personal data. These bodies, AKA Data Controllers, are obliged to;
- Gather and use personal information fairly.
- Keep it for only one or more clearly stated and lawful purposes.
- Use and make known this information only in ways that are in keeping with these purposes.
- Keep the information safe.
- Make sure that the information is factually correct, complete and up-to-date.
- Make sure that there is enough information – but not too much - and that it is relevant.
- Keep the information for no longer than is needed for the reason stated.
- Give you a copy of your personal information when you ask for it.
This article is a brief insight into what can be a complex subject, however we hope that this piece is a reminder to staff, their families and friends, that they have rights and also that privacy is a right and not just an aspiration.
Please note that the above article does not constitute legal advice nor does it necessarily represent the views or policy of ESB. If you have any queries regarding Data Protection or require advice please contact the ESB Data Protection Manger (sean.kirwan@esb.ie) or your own legal representative.
Third level Education Award-winners
THE 2011 ESB Third-Level Education Awards Draw for Children of Staff took place on Friday October 28th in the Helsinki Room, Head Office.
There were also draws on the same day for the St Patrick’s Credit Union - Alan Gallagher Educational Award and the 2011 ESB Education Bursary.
2011 ESB Third Level Educational Awards Draw Winners
•Patrick Rowland (SN 09943), ESB Networks, daughter Joanne
•Christopher Fitzgerald, (SN 09719), ESB Networks, daughter Stacey
•Alan Enright, (SN 15855), ESB Networks, son Mark
•Michael Regan (SN 07616), ESB Networks, son Colin
•Peter Keogh, (SN 13903), ESB Networks, son Jason
2011 St. Patrick’s Credit Union – Alan Gallagher Educational Award Winner
•Joseph Byrne, (SN 06477), ESB Energy International, son Fiachra
2011 ESB Educational Bursary Winner
•Donie Hogan, (SN 04339), VSS, ESB Energy International, son Evan.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL
€1Million Winter Charity Programme
ON DECEMBER 20th, ESB announced its Electric Ireland €1Million Winter Charity Programme to support two important Irish charities – Saint Vincent de Paul and ALONE.
ESB has a long tradition of working with St. Vincent de Paul and supported them with a significant cash donation before Christmas and a special promotion in 2012 that will continue to raise funds for the charity.
ESB is also supporting ALONE in a very meaningful way. Through its Electric Ireland Energy Services business, the company will carry out energy efficiency retrofit work on ALONE properties and donate additional funds to the charity to support its fuel affordability programme.
ESB Chief Executive Pat O’Doherty said, “In view of the current economic climate and the hardships that many people across the country are facing, we are delighted to provide the Electric Ireland €1Million fund to support those most in need”.
“We know that organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul and ALONE are dependent on donations to ensure they continue to support those most in need, particularly in the lead up to Christmas, when they experience a significant increase in requests for assistance. We also appreciate that charities are finding it increasingly difficult to raise much needed funds in this challenging economic environment,” he added.
Online Store
By Mary Milne
ELECTRIC IRELAND STORE had a busy run up to Christmas. We held a number of Staff Roadshows in the following locations during November and December - Swift Square, Head Office, Wilton and Abtran, which proved very successful and we will be looking forward to visiting other locations throughout 2012.
The Electric Ireland Online Store ran a twitter promotion for the first time, the promotion was called ‘12 Days of Christmas’ and consisted of tweeters pledging a #tweetwish of their most desired online store product. At the end of each day, a tweeter was selected and won the product they wished for. This was a great promotional opportunity for us to showcase our great range of products whilst engaging with a social media based market. We hope to explore further opportunities within social media in 2012.
Our top-selling product in December was the Chimney Balloon, closely followed by the Carbon Monoxide Alarm. We have just added a new Carbon Monoxide Alarm which has a digital display for homes with people who are more susceptible to CO such as, the very young, elderly or those with respiratory problems. Our range of Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarms are Irish Made.
The online store has been rebranded to reflect the stand alone Electric Ireland brand. The challenge for 2012 is to successfully promote this newly single branded store by means of innovative and engaging campaigns to ensure we fully build upon the potential of the online store. The Electric Ireland Store also has a new web address www.electricirelandstore.ie so please don’t forget to add us to your favourites, and check in with us from time to time to view the exciting offers for you in 2012.
And to help our customers spring into energy efficiency this February we will be offering the chance for all customers to avail of free delivery for a limited period!
A grand account!
A CHARITY ACCOUNT was set up in 2009 within Electric Ireland Payments to allow customers the opportunity to donate small sums of money to a charity where they had a credit balance on their electricity account. Last year a total of €1,009.09 has been raised by this initiative.
The DD Administration/Payments Control teams have nominated two local Sligo charities, the MS North West Therapy Centre and The Down Syndrome Ireland as this year’s deserving charities. Customers who donated money to the Charity Account during the year will be issued with a ‘Thank You’ letter by the Direct Debit Administration team in Sligo acknowledging their donation to these charities. Thanks also to the Contact Centre and all Billing & Payments staff support for this worthwhile initiative.
