Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has welcomed the announcement that an external investigation has been initiated into the installation and use of surveillance equipment in fire engines in Wicklow. He called for immediate clarification on the details of the terms of reference for the investigation. As complete transparency is needed if retained fire service and members of the public are to have confidence in its findings.
Brady previously wrote to both the Minister Darragh O’Brien, whose department is responsible for both local authorities, and the retained fire service, and the Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O’Gorman, demanding an inquiry into what is a gross abuse of the privacy and well being of members of a front line service in Wicklow, who not only put their lives on the line in service of their community, a service who have lost members, killed in the line of duty.
Brady said:
“This is an important development which has come about following revelations that surveillance equipment was used to covertly record members of the retained fire service in their place of work here in Wicklow.
In May I wrote to both Minister Darragh O’Brien, and Wicklow County Council CEO Emer O’Gorman, expressing serious concern in relation to the covert surveillance which was in place in Wicklow against members of the retained fire service, in which I also set out a series of important questions, and demanding an immediate investigation.
Wicklow County Council were unable to offer a credible explanation for their actions.
The additional information which I provided completely undermined the initial narrative put forward by the Council and has raised even more questions around the whole affair.
So, I welcome the announcement that an external investigation has been initiated.
There must be absolute transparency around all aspects of this investigation.
Minister Darragh O’Brien and Wicklow County Council must set out clearly what the terms of reference of the investigation will be, who will be in charge, and who it will be accountable to.
It is critical that any individuals that may have been involved in the authorisation, planting, operation, or supervision of the covert surveillance be kept outside this investigation.
The covert recording and filming of members of the retained fire service in their workplace is a gross invasion of privacy, which is in breach of GDPR regulations.
That frontline emergency responders would be treated in this manner is a potentially huge scandal.
There are strict rules in place in respect of personal privacy, including the retention of personal data under GDPR.
There are a number of serious questions that need to be answered here by the investigation announced by Wicklow County Council.
I hope that the many questions which I have put to the Council will be included as part of the terms of reference for the external investigator.
The clandestine surveillance of workers including the recording of their private conversations is an abuse of power and is totally unacceptable.
There needs to be accountability.
I am calling on Minister O’Brien and Wicklow County Council to ensure that the investigation completes its work as soon as possible, that it is afforded complete cooperation from Wicklow County Council, and that the investigation is completely transparent.
It is inconceivable that a government body of any description would engage in a campaign of covert surveillance against employees, never mind, a body of women and men, who put their lives on the line on a daily basis for their community. It is a matter of the strictest public interest that the external investigation provides answers and accountability.