This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/526342-ireland-political-parties-investigated/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ireland’s major political parties investigated by privacy watchdog after admitting to using fake pollsters during elections | Ireland’s major political parties investigated by privacy watchdog after admitting to using fake pollsters during elections |
| (3 months later) | |
| Four of Ireland’s biggest political parties, including the three currently in power, are facing audits after admitting to using fictional market research companies and posing as pollsters to survey voter mood ahead of elections. | Four of Ireland’s biggest political parties, including the three currently in power, are facing audits after admitting to using fictional market research companies and posing as pollsters to survey voter mood ahead of elections. |
| The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) is conducting an investigation into how Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, as well as opposition party Sinn Féin, have handled private data collected from voting members of the public. | The Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) is conducting an investigation into how Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, as well as opposition party Sinn Féin, have handled private data collected from voting members of the public. |
| In a statement, the DPC said that “all political parties have been asked to account for the source of each field of personal data they process concerning electors/voters.” | In a statement, the DPC said that “all political parties have been asked to account for the source of each field of personal data they process concerning electors/voters.” |
| Earlier this week, news emerged that Sinn Féin party members had worn fake identification badges and pretended to be pollsters to survey unsuspecting households prior to, and during, elections. | Earlier this week, news emerged that Sinn Féin party members had worn fake identification badges and pretended to be pollsters to survey unsuspecting households prior to, and during, elections. |
| Citing a leaked 2015 internal party document, the Irish Independent paper reported that party members were instructed on how to pass as employees of a fake polling firm called ‘Irish Market Research Agency’ so as to ascertain voting intentions ahead of the country’s 2016 general election. | Citing a leaked 2015 internal party document, the Irish Independent paper reported that party members were instructed on how to pass as employees of a fake polling firm called ‘Irish Market Research Agency’ so as to ascertain voting intentions ahead of the country’s 2016 general election. |
| The party’s representatives defended the practise, noting that it was “entirely anonymous” with “no identifiable private information or data... used, collected or stored.” | The party’s representatives defended the practise, noting that it was “entirely anonymous” with “no identifiable private information or data... used, collected or stored.” |
| Spokesman Eoin Ó Broin suggested that such activities were “standard practice” at election time. He claimed it was a “key way to level the playing field” in light of the expenses involved in polling. | Spokesman Eoin Ó Broin suggested that such activities were “standard practice” at election time. He claimed it was a “key way to level the playing field” in light of the expenses involved in polling. |
| “The accuracy of those polls was just as good as polls that you would pay thousands of euros for and we stand over that. The polls were done properly and ethically in my view,” Ó Broin told Newstalk radio. | “The accuracy of those polls was just as good as polls that you would pay thousands of euros for and we stand over that. The polls were done properly and ethically in my view,” Ó Broin told Newstalk radio. |
| It turned out that the practice was indeed standard among parties, with deputy PM Leo Varadkar forced to admit shortly after that his party, Fine Gael, had done “something similar” in the runup to the 2011 election, using volunteers and university students from the party’s youth wings to act as independent researchers. | It turned out that the practice was indeed standard among parties, with deputy PM Leo Varadkar forced to admit shortly after that his party, Fine Gael, had done “something similar” in the runup to the 2011 election, using volunteers and university students from the party’s youth wings to act as independent researchers. |
| The fake pollsters were handed business cards bearing the name of a fictional firm, ‘Political Research Association of Ireland’, to identify themselves with, according to an unnamed source who also told the paper that the fake pollsters were promised €50 for their efforts. In the end, they were apparently not paid. | The fake pollsters were handed business cards bearing the name of a fictional firm, ‘Political Research Association of Ireland’, to identify themselves with, according to an unnamed source who also told the paper that the fake pollsters were promised €50 for their efforts. In the end, they were apparently not paid. |
| Noting that all polling by the party after 2016 had been through market research companies and private contractors, a spokesperson for Varadkar told the paper that the practice of using paid students and volunteers had been “discontinued as it was considered no longer to be appropriate.” | Noting that all polling by the party after 2016 had been through market research companies and private contractors, a spokesperson for Varadkar told the paper that the practice of using paid students and volunteers had been “discontinued as it was considered no longer to be appropriate.” |
| “People asked to take part in the survey were told that the purpose was a political opinion poll and consent was sought to take part. The surveys or sample ballot papers were anonymised. No names or personal data was recorded or retained,” the spokesperson said. | “People asked to take part in the survey were told that the purpose was a political opinion poll and consent was sought to take part. The surveys or sample ballot papers were anonymised. No names or personal data was recorded or retained,” the spokesperson said. |
| Following Varadkar’s admission, his party’s coalition partners Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had to backtrack from earlier comments about being unaware of party members posing as private pollsters. | Following Varadkar’s admission, his party’s coalition partners Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had to backtrack from earlier comments about being unaware of party members posing as private pollsters. |
| A Fianna Fáil spokesperson admitted that prior to 2007 the party had done so “on occasion” to “supplement private providers also used.” | A Fianna Fáil spokesperson admitted that prior to 2007 the party had done so “on occasion” to “supplement private providers also used.” |
| Afterwards, a Green Party spokesperson said “there may have been some isolated incidents” of covert polling under false pretenses “in some constituencies over a decade ago.” | Afterwards, a Green Party spokesperson said “there may have been some isolated incidents” of covert polling under false pretenses “in some constituencies over a decade ago.” |
| “To be clear, this is not something that the present day party approves of or would ever engage in,” the spokesperson added. | “To be clear, this is not something that the present day party approves of or would ever engage in,” the spokesperson added. |
| According to media reports, Irish police are waiting on the DPC to complete its audits and submit its findings in a complaint before deciding whether to conduct its own investigation. | According to media reports, Irish police are waiting on the DPC to complete its audits and submit its findings in a complaint before deciding whether to conduct its own investigation. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |