PL demands political responsibility after Data Commissioner's conclusions

Muscat. Pat

Dec 2nd 2009, 18:23

Do I have a right to get to know who is this Data Protection Commissioner who is protecting me? This case should be taken to the EU Courts of Justice, as I find the ruling politically motivated, as were the "ideas" behind Paul Borg Olivier,s strategy!

C.Sammut

Dec 2nd 2009, 17:18

Incidentally I wouldn't fault PBO for trying, but the government entity that would have complied in this case.

C.Sammut

Dec 2nd 2009, 17:16

J.Vella: then PBO's request should have been directed as a suggestion to government who should make sure that information for knowledge management is not personalised. You'd have to be naive or blue blinkered to think that PBO's email was such a suggestion.

C.Sammut

Dec 2nd 2009, 17:14

J.Vella: then PBO's request should have been directed as a suggestion to government who should make sure that information for knowledge management is not personalised. You'd have to be naive or blue blinkered to think that PBO's email was such a suggestion.

Charles Zammit

Dec 2nd 2009, 17:08

This is definitely a serious issue and somebody has to shoulder the responsibility for this flagrant attack on the citizen's privacy. There should be a clear demarcation between functionaries in Ministries and government departments and others performing duties of a partisan political nature. The mix is not allowed in an evolved democratic country. God forbid we go back to the 60s.

D Attard

Dec 2nd 2009, 15:44

@R Spiteri

You forgot to mention Joseph's success in steering a sizeable victory at the MEP elections. Surely that is no flop...but perhaps that is not worth mentioning is it?

wally vella-zarb

Dec 2nd 2009, 15:38

"Grasping at straws!"

As usual, the self-appointed spokesman for the PN on all matters Maltese, the Honourable Martinelli is addressing himself! In Maltese we have a saying that goes something like "Il-***** milli jkollha ttik!"

No matter how many straws YOU clutch, the fact remains that (1) there was an intention to break the Data Protection Act and, (2) had it not been for Dr Muscat revealing this plan, this illegal action would have taken place. Read again what the Commissioner decided.

But do go on, Cajun Joe, with your beautifully warped 'logic'; more and more rational floating voters are being convinced - to cross over to Labour! ;-)

Joe Buttigeig

Dec 2nd 2009, 14:58

Is Joseph Muscat going to assume politicat responsibility for the doings of the past Labour leaders?

If yes please tell me so that I will be able to sue him for three promotions which I was refused, so that Labour supporters would get promoted instead of me and for the difference in my pension entitlment since I retired in Scale 11 and should have retired in Scale 9.

J Cachia

Dec 2nd 2009, 14:54

@Martinelli---ara min qed jitkellelm bil-clutching at straws ta!! In your long comment (one of the many we have become accustomed to by now) in no place did you mention the fact that your darling PBO has violated people's right to privacy....what do you care that this goes completely against the norms of politics? What do you care that this shows that the PN government thinks it is some kind of god that can use private property for its own propogandistic reasons?? L-aqwa li qieghed il-Kanada ixxamplat int tghidilna x'ghadna naghmlu u x'm'ghandniex!!

Victor Laiviera

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:54

I have just noticed that Mr Seychell's post was in two parts. In the second, referring to the car licence refund issue, he is clearly labouring under a grave misconception.

If this case goes against the LP, the court will not (and cannot) ORDER the Gov not to pay back the VAT in question It can only rule that the Gov is NOT OBLIGED to pay it.

There would be nothing to stop a future Labour Gov from taking a perfectly legal political decision to reimburse those funds..

Mr Seychell is confusing a certain vegetable with one of the sources greenhouse gas. :)

Victor Laiviera

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:43

Since Mr Michael Seychell saw fit to quote a couple of Maltese adages, here is another one for him; "MIN JAGĦMEL BIXKILLA, JAGĦMEL QARTALLA".

Dr Borg Olivier, as Segretary Genaral of the PN, was actively seeking to acquire the personal details of people who registered complaints with government departments.

Had he succeeded, he would have made full use of them

A Busuttil

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:33

Mike DO NOT BE PETTY !

Remove your blinkered approach as you are doing a disservice to the PN.

I am not a Labour voter. But this is serious.

The only thought of complaining at the Ministy's "customer care" about, for example, the fact that I did not find the medicine which my mother takes at the Health Ministry and this information goes to Paul Borg Olivier is revolting.

It just confirms that this is turning into a totalitarian state, where only the few priveleged are helped and myself who made a career for myself am at the mercy of big brother government.

Please change track PN or move on.

Karl Deguara

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:30

R . Spiteri

If i had to write down the FLOPS of the PN Govt........i would burn my Keyboard off.
Ask the families if they are living better.

WAKE UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

jimi Xerri

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:30

What about the data that is within all political parties, which includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, political party memberships, etc..? Don't you think dear members of the PL that this is a storm in a tea cup? I think it's time for each political party, whoever it may be, to state the truth, and not hand out statements for the people in the street to believe in whatever is said.

J.Borg

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:28

@ Mike Seychell
Your reasoning is well below par.......as if the email in the first place wasn't sent by mistake to Jason Micallef, this wouldn't have surfaced.
And we all know how the PN works......and 1 and suppose a lot of people in Malta think that what PBO had asked from the ministers would have taken place.
This matter is of utmost importance as the data commissioner would have said that if it took place there would have been serious consequences and PBO was warned by the commissioner.
You address the PL by quoting "kieku waqa u kiser siequ"......how come you are directing this idiom to the PL and not mention the data commissioner as well since he said "if it took place"
The PN is trying to turn things round on this case but people aren't anymore gullible.

Joe Vella

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:27

@ D. Ellul & C. Sammut

What is wrong with someone suggesting that the OPM should be responsible in seeing that concerns put forward by citizens are responded to and dealt with on a timely basis. Paul Borg Olivier nowhere in his e-mail suggested that personal information to be forwarded to the PN.

Is this so hard to understand? Perhaps it is to for the Gloom and Doom Crowd.

G. Portelli

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:20

So now resposibility should be shouldered for wanting to do something.

"The Commissioner had found that Paul Borg Olivier had wanted to to operate a system which would have violated the law, the PL said."

Joseph stay on edge as I want to become PL leader. Lol

C.Sammut

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:19

In my opinion the Data Commissioner should pull his socks up and start auditing data movement within Government entities at random instances. He should also have the necessary set up for doing this or outsource the job. Political parties and the citizen can make recommendations on what data should be audited.

Joseph Aquilina

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:03

@Michael Seychell
If I 'plan' to kill someone and the police find out then I still finish up in court! Paul Borg Olivier was planning to breach the Data Protection Act (either willingly or non willingly) and therefore should still shoulder some form of responsibility. The least he can do is excuse himself! Remember that we know what was going to happen just because he made a mistake and not because he was open about it!

R. Caruana

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:02

One fiasco after another, and 'consultants' continue to be paid handsomely from PL funds, which it can ill afford.

Let's see what face the PL will put up to ask its supporters for donations come 13 December! Shame all round!

A.Borg

Dec 2nd 2009, 13:01

@Michael Seychell--- I expected something better from you

From now onwards, our Courts will absolve all cases of attempted bribery, attempted murder, attempted crimes against government, conspiracy to import drugs etc

Does your saying of 'Kieku waqa u kiser siequ' applies??

Dennis Zammit

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:50

It might not be the best method to go about the problem but if where the citizen with a problem and someone, somewhere could have this info and help me out, I would not mind.

I am sure that the PN Sec. General meant to do a good thing as many times, minor or serious problems get stuck in Govt. Depts and Ministries and a helping push is always appreciated.

So, please, Dr. Paul Borg Olivier, have the data on my problems and push them.

g. scerri

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:46

In the past questions have been asked regarding the salary that certain public officials enjoy. The answer was that we had no right to know how our money was being spent and the Data Protection Act was quoted. Where was the Commissioner then?

J Martinelli

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:44

Grasping at straws!

Will Joseph accept political responsibility for fighting tooth and nail against joining the EU ?
Will he accept responsibility for delaying tactics for every single proposal by the government?
Will he be held politically responsible for misleading the public and making unfounded allegations and mud slinging?
Will he be held responsible for behaving like a spoiled brat, showing up late for State related appointments, and not showing up at all during the Budget debate?
Will the LP turn over all personal data already held by the Party pertaining to private individuals, to the Data Commissioner?
Will the LP and Joseph as its leader, be held politically responsible for the now famous (and hopefully defunct) door-to-door scheme 'marking' those who refuse membership in the LP or 'donate' funds to the Party!?

Of course they will - next election in 2013.

Michael Seychell

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:43

@ M/LP - In Maltese we have a saying - KIEKU U KIEN QATT MA LTAQGHU FLIMKIEN, and another one KIEKU WAQA U KISER SIEQU.

These two sayings confirm that whilst there was definatly no inmfringmrnt of the Data Protection Act, as the MLP insisteed in this case, no political responsibility can be requested for the simple fact that the case stopped there.


Michael Seychell

For all we know there could have been another scenario on this case suchy as that Dr. Gonzi or any other Minister, could have pulled PBO's attention that his suggestion would infringe the DPA, and the cxase would have stopped there just the same.

If the MLP led by JM continues with this campaign, I would ask him who will shoulder the responsibility of the vow HE made that even if the Courts of Law decides in favour of the governmnet in the car licence issue, HE will defy the court and give away 50 million euro to those effected. Since this has not happened as yet, I will not ask the MLP to shoulder political responsibility, as I believe in the above sayings.

Deo Micallef

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:42

@ J farrugia

For your info this is what the commissioner said - "For these reasons, the general secretary of the Nationalist Party is being warned that his request, had it been implemented, would have had serious consequences on the right to privacy of the individuals about whom personal information would have been issued."

If this is not serious enough for you, for us common citizens it is. The purpose of an opposition is to blow the whistle whenever the government is acting wrongly, that is what democracy is all about after all!!

Keith Davis

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:38

I dont think the idea of having complaints forwarded to the PN was ever implemented, otherwise I guess we would not have such a poor service in goverment institutions. Such as long ques at ADT Licencing and Testing. Ques should have been abolosihed by now in 2009 when all things are so easy with a computerised environment.

The govenrment needs to do way much more to make its entities look fresh and modern!

jbusuttil

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:34

PL have gone back to the times of pre Alfred Sant under Joseph Muscat thay have become very bad losers and it is dangerious to have a party in power acting this way

Robert attard

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:33

@J Farrugia's
people's privacy is much more serious then 'a molehill'!!!

C Fabri

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:32

I think PL should use it's time better than this! They start procedures against someone and when they are proven wrong they keep on insisting that what they thought is the fact rather than just their thought. The same happened with the new powerstation tender! Un believable! I think Dr. Muscat is still acting as a journalist rather than a party leader and he's thinking that Dr. Gonzi has time to spare like he does, eventhough wait Dr. Muscat is a very busy man, he even left a King waiting for him!!!

Joe Micallef

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:28

This is really petty as if Joey doesn't know that all parties do exactly the same. How would he explain to me that his candidates prior to any elections flood my inbox with unsolicited mail. From where did they get my e-mail address? Who gave them permission?

Not only but prior to the last general election I had a prominent MLP candidate coming to my house and during his obviously prepared script he started talking about education (an antonym when it comes to PL). At one point he asked me what I thought of public schools. I told him that I thought they had improved but still hade room for further improvement. To my utter surprise he asked why I sent my child to a private school. Obviously I asked the arch-idiot to leave. From where did he get the information?

R Spiteri

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:27

This list speaks for itself....in less than 22 months Joseph Muscat accomplished the following :

- been to Libya and said that he saw a secret document which then resulted to be available to everyone on the Internet
- appointed Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia and Evarist Bartolo and Alex Sciberras Trigona as his consultants
- The flop of this BSWC issue
- The flop of turning late to the King of Spain
- The flop of not speaking in Parliament about the OPM role and budget estimates
- The flop of going for a burger in Sicily and not for the President Emeritus state dinner
- The flop proposing VAT reduction in restaurants that resulted in a failure in France
- The flop of not meeting the journalist from Iceland

ghalissa nieqaf hawn....

D Ellul

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:22

This is a very serious issue. We cannot let these things pass as if nothing happened. No wonder we're always at the bottom of the tables in Transparency International's rankings.

C.Sammut

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:22

Mr J Farrugia would you have felt the same if it was PL requesting this information? As a citizen you should value your right to privacy.

J Farrugia

Dec 2nd 2009, 12:04

Ma va la Labour Party - you have lost your road and your soul. Making storms out of molehills.