Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IN THE WAKE of the recent revelations that garda stations recorded incoming and outgoing calls for decades while the Prison Service inadvertently recorded some calls, almost all government departments have confirmed that they do not record calls – nor have they ever done so.
The disclosure has been made in a series of answers to parliamentary questions which asked if any telephone calls in or out of departments “are being, or ever have been recorded” and for any details of recording systems.
While most departments answered in the negative, the written answers to independent TD Stephen Donnelly this week did disclose that Social Protection Minister Joan Burton’s department does record some calls and stores them for up to three months.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton disclosed that an agency under his department recorded calls for five years up until 2012.
While the Department of Justice said that a “random sample of staff telephone calls” to its IT helpdesk are recorded “to ensure quality of service delivery”.
The Department of Social Protection said that it does not routinely record calls “with the exception of one sensitive area where callers are advised of the situation”.
In these cases calls are recorded and stored in a “secure environment for 90 days” with only a limited number of staff able to access the recordings. This service has cost over €10,000 in 2013 and 2014.
The Department also said that calls into the National Contact Centre are recorded and that all callers are informed as such. The recordings are kept as data files on a local server. There is no extra cost as the recording service is part of the telephone system itself.
The Department of Jobs said that calls into the call centre of the National Employment Rights Authority offices in Carlow were recorded automatically between 2007 and 2012 but deleted if the operator chose not to save the call.
The system cost €21,775 plus VAT in total and the practice was discontinued in 2012 following a system upgrade.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s department said that there is no recording system in place in Government Buildings, nor has there ever been one. This answer was echoed by the Departments of Finance; Education; Defence; and Health.
The Departments of Arts; Communications; Environment; and Children said they do not record calls but do have voicemail systems which callers can avail of if they wish to leave a message.
As if to underline the government policy on this issue, Brendan Howlin reassuringly said his department, Public Expenditure and Reform, is not currently considering implementing such a system of recording calls.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it does not record incoming or outgoing calls but did point out that the Passport Office records calls for quality and training purposes.
The system used is provided by Cisco Call Manager and cost around €13,500 to install.
The Department of Transport said that the Irish Coast Guard is the only area of Leo Varadkar’s department which does record calls.
All radio and telephone calls at the three Marine Rescue Coordination Centres in Dublin, Malin and Valentia are recorded “in accordance with a long standing practice”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Know two with long covid. No joke, totally knocked both. Both lads one mid 30s other mid 50s.
Hope this young lady returns to 100%
@Tom Ripley: the ‘open everything’ crowd wont like to read this.
Sounds very like those who suffer with autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, Crohn’s disease, UC, AIH, Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, PSC, PBC and many others. The fatigue, the flares, lack of empathy from employers etc.
@Serge the llama: I have Psoriatic arthritis but luckily my medication I has worked wonders for me and I’m able to do most of the things I want to do. But you’re right, before I was diagnosed and could barely walk down the stairs, the lack of understanding was staggering.
@Serge the llama: many of those illnesses are starting to be linked to underlying #MCAS. Could count on 1 hand the Drs with MCAS or MC awareness.
Good article, well said Eilish, I hope you make a full recovery very soon and that your comments are heeded.
Most of us can appreciate nurses and the work they do. That said, is it reasonable to elevate them alone when about 3 times as many of their colleagues have the same issues and remain silent, I’m not questioning that some are seriously ill, so are many other people. I don’t believe anyone should be penalised for being ill and that there should maybe arrangements made for all healthcare workers who became ill as a nature of their work, not just nurses alone.
Maybe everyone could clap for them again?
@cryptodon: that was the UK not Ireland.
@Eamonn Martin: obvious Trolling
There is no question about it anyone who is in this situation should not have to worry about getting paid.they should be paid in full and not have sick pay reduced or taken into account later when they return to work
I’m a firefighter and have been out of work with long covid since December and can relate to all the issues in the article. Unfortunately for everyone in this 2 tier society if you don’t have private health insurance you can’t access post covid clinics. The HSE needs to step up now and help public patients get back to work. The whole scenario is extremely frustrating.
@Eamonn Martin: Hope you never get it so.
@Eamonn Martin: are u ready for the backlash sir :), enjoy
COVID-19 Hyperinflammation & Post-Covid-19 Illness may be linked to newly recognised Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.
See a paper here
@Thomas O’ Donnell: So do I Tommy. If I do, I hope I don’t die or suffer long effects. Doesn’t mean the world should be on hold because of that tiny risk though.
,
have your say