Data Protection Act, 1988 5 of 50 https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1988/act/25/enacted/en/print.html?printonload=true AN ACT TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH REGARD TO AUTOMATIC PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA DONE AT STRASBOURG ON THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1981, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO REGULATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS PROVISIONS THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING, KEEPING, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUALS THAT IS PROCESSED AUTOMATICALLY. [13th July, 1988] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Preliminary Interpretation and 1.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— application of Act. “appropriate authority” has the meaning assigned to it by the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958; “back-up data” means data kept only for the purpose of replacing other data in the event of their being lost, destroyed or damaged; “civil servant” has the meaning assigned to it by the Civil Service Regulation Acts, 1956 and 1958; “the Commissioner” has the meaning assigned to it by section 9 of this Act; “company” has the meaning assigned to it by the Companies Act, 1963 ; “the Convention” means the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data done at Strasbourg on the 28th day of January, 1981, the text of which is set out in the First Schedule to this Act; “the Court” means the Circuit Court; “data” means information in a form in which it can be processed; “data controller” means a person who, either alone or with others, controls the contents and use of personal data; “data equipment” means equipment for processing data; “data material” means any document or other material used in connection with, or produced by, data equipment; 21.02.23, 18:36