Cookie Statement

Cookies on this website

The Health Service Executive (HSE) owns and runs this website. 

This website uses cookies and other related technologies such as pixels, beacons or tracking technology. We will use the terms “cookies” to refer to all similar technologies. 

Cookies are small files that are created and saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website. They store information about how you use the website, such as the pages you visit and how you interact with content.

Cookies are not viruses or computer programs. They are very small so do not take up much space.

See the current list of cookies.

Types of information our cookies collect

We receive the following types of information about you through the cookies we use:

• cookie browser data – cookie identifiers, time and date, pages viewed, which cookies you have consented to
• device data – device type, screen resolution, operating system version, browser information (version and basic settings)
• log data – when and how long you used this website for, what you searched for
• location data – the country and county you were in when you used the website
• analytical data – data about your usage of this website
• IP addresses – in server log files for website security purposes

We anonymise and aggregate the data that we collect. If you give us permission to collect more information, we do this in line with your consent. There are a small number of situations where we collect the information in our legitimate interests.

Consent and cookies

We automatically set cookies that are strictly necessary. We do not need your consent to use them. You cannot change these or opt-out.

For all other cookies, we need your consent. We get this through the cookies banner which appears at the bottom of the website. We will use cookies to save your cookie preferences.

Your consent will last for 6 months from the date that you last provide it to us. After 6 months, we will automatically ask you to give us a new consent, the next time you use our website on the same device.

How you can control your cookie settings

Cookie settings

Some cookies, like those used to collect information about how you use our website, are not essential. We'll only use them if you say it's OK through your cookies settings.

Manage your preferences.

No matter what cookie settings you choose, you should be able to visit all pages on our website without losing any functionality. But some additional features may not be available to you. 

Choose which cookies we can use when you visit our website.

Access to your cookies data 

Only HSE staff, and suppliers who are directly involved with the management of this website will have access to cookies data collected.​

All HSE staff, and suppliers which may have access to personal data shall be bound to the HSE via confidentiality agreements and are obliged to keep your personal data secure, and to use it only for the purposes specified by the HSE.

Our suppliers can be categorised as follows:

• Advertising, PR, digital and creative agencies
• Market and customer research providers
• Social media platforms
• Website and app developers
• Website hosting services providers

The majority of suppliers we use are processors with whom we have a contract in place that requires them to keep your information secure and not to use it other than in accordance with our specific instructions. We only disclose to them or allow them to access information that is necessary for them to provide their services.

In relation to the cookies used on this Website, we use the following key suppliers:

Analytics

The website uses analytics tools. We use analytics cookies to pseudonymously define new visitors, analyse, plan and improve the service. We also use them to track activity on the website, such as where visitors stop using the website.

Pseudonymised data will not include any of your personal data including your IP address. Our website does not collect analytics data without your consent and is set to ‘Off’ by default. You can change your consent to the processing for analytics purposes at any time.

Social Media Channels

If you are logged into your social media account when you access this website then the social media account provider may be able to associate your account with the pages that you visit. They do not do this on behalf of the HSE but for their own purposes, please make yourself aware of the privacy policies of the social media providers that are present on our website.

You can find out more about the policies of these social media channels here:

Will my personal data be transferred outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)

We use analytics tools to collect information about your use of this website. Some of our analytics providers process the pseudonymised data in the United States of America (USA). The technical measures taken in the collection of the data should mean that no personal data is transferred outside the EEA.

We have anonymised IP addresses for analytics purposes on this website which means that no individual can be identified by their IP address. We acknowledge that there remains a risk that the data could be recombined with other data held by our processor that was not collected from our websites.

Otherwise, we do not transfer any other personal data about you outside the EEA. If we need to transfer your personal data outside the EEA, we will make sure the provisions of Chapter V of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are complied with.

All information we get through cookies and analytics will be treated in confidence. We will never sell, trade or give your details to third parties unless we're required to do it by law.

Your data protection rights

ePrivacy Rights

Your ePrivacy rights state that you have the right to withdraw your consent to cookies. Control your cookie settings.

Data Protection Rights

Your data protection rights include the right to access, right to object, right to object to automated processing and the right to review your data. 

Read the HSE’s data protection statement. 

Submit a request - HSE Consumer Affairs

To exercise any of these data protection rights, you can submit a request to HSE Consumer Affairs free of charge. You may be charged if your request is clearly unfounded, excessive or repetitive.

Complaints

If you want to make a complaint about how the HSE uses cookies you can do this with the Data Protection Commission or the HSE Data Protection Officer.

Data Protection Commission

info@dataprotection.ie

LoCall: 1890 252 231 

Phone: 0761 104 8000

Phone: 057 868 4800

dataprotection.ie

Canal House, Station Road, 

Portarlington, 

R32 AP23, Co Laois  

HSE Data Protection Officer (DPO)

The HSE Data Protection Officer (DPO) can be contacted directly by email at dpo@hse.ie.  You can also contact our DPO offices in your area.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint then you have the right to lodge a complaint with our supervisory authority, the Data Protection Commission - dataprotection.ie and the HSE Data Protection Officer. You can lodge a complaint if:

• we are unable to resolve your complaint about how your personal data is being processed 
• you are not happy how your complaint has been handled