Privacy
Privacy statement & cookies
This privacy statement explains how the Courts Service collects and processes your personal data. This includes information you provide when you access this website, use our services, deal with our staff, or report a problem with our site.
Please read this privacy statement with any other privacy notices we may provide on specific occasions. This statement supplements other notices and does not override them.
Who we are
‘We’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ refer to the Courts Service. We are responsible for the management and administration of the courts. We are not involved in the administration of justice. Judicial functions are carried out independently by the judiciary, subject only to the Constitution and the law.
Where personal data is part of a court record, the Courts Service processes this data on behalf of the courts.
How to contact us
The Courts Service’s principal address is:
Phoenix House, 15/24 Phoenix Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7
We have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsible for overseeing questions about data protection. To contact the DPO:
- Email: [email protected]
- Post: Data Protection Officer, Phoenix House, 15/24 Phoenix Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7, Ireland
The information we collect
Personal data means any information about an individual who can be identified. It does not include anonymous data. We may collect:
- Identity and contact data: name, address, date of birth, contact details, PPSN, etc.
- Financial data: bank account, card details, billing information.
- Business information: information provided in your dealings with us.
- Profile and usage data: login details, preferences, website usage data.
- Technical data: IP address, browser, device type, operating system.
- Physical access data: records of visits to premises.
- CCTV: images recorded for security in and around court buildings.
- Sensitive personal data: in limited circumstances, such as health or criminal records.
How we collect your personal data
We may collect data when:
- you use our services or online platforms
- you provide services to us
- you correspond with us (by phone, email, post or in person)
- you complete forms, make enquiries or interact on our websites
How we use this information
We may use your data to:
- manage our relationship with you, including payments and records
- fulfil legal obligations and support the operation of the courts
- carry out compliance checks and audits
- improve services and communications
- manage security and prevent fraud
- process employment applications
- exercise or defend legal rights
Security and confidentiality
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data from loss, misuse or unauthorised access. However, no system is completely secure and data transmission over the internet is at your own risk.
We have procedures in place to deal with suspected breaches and will notify you and regulators where legally required.
Your rights
- Access: request a copy of data we hold about you
- Accuracy: ask us to update or correct your data
- Object: ask us to stop processing your data in certain cases
- Erasure: request deletion of data that is no longer needed
Court records
Court records are under the control of the courts, not the Courts Service. Data processed in a judicial capacity is covered by section 158 of the Data Protection Act 2018. A general data protection notice for the courts is available here.
Changes to this privacy statement
We update this notice from time to time, for example if we change how we use information or update our technology.
