Cookies on the HSE website
Cookies are small files that are created and saved on your phone, tablet or computer when you visit a website. Cookies are not viruses or computer programs. They are very small so they do not take up much space.
Cookies make our website work, keep it secure, remember your choices and store information about how you use the website. This information could be about the pages you visit and how you interact with the content on them.
If you use the social media buttons on our website and allow cookies from the companies that own these platforms, they will collect information about you. Social media buttons could be a link to a Youtube video, Facebook, Twitter or other social media channels.
Information our cookies collect
Cookie browser data
This gives us information on:
- the time and date you were on our site
- the pages you looked at, for how long and how you engaged with the pages
- which cookies you gave permission for us to use
Device data
This gives us information on:
- the type of device you are using to access the internet, for example a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer
- the operating system you are using, for example Microsoft Windows
- the type and size of the screen you have
- the browser version you use, for example Chrome, Safari, Firefox
Log data
This is information on when you used the website, how long you were on it for and what you searched for.
Location data
This tells us the country and county you were in when you used the website.
Analytical data
Data about how you use the website. For example, how often you visit.
IP addresses
IP addresses are processed in HSE server log files for website security purposes. We have configured our analytical tools to collect anonymised IP addresses where possible.
In cases where the analytical tool collects IP addresses, these are anonymised when collected. They are held and processed separately from IP addresses collected for website security purposes.
When we collect the information, we pseudonymise it by aggregating it and removing personal data. This means that you are not identified and we don’t know who you are. If you give us permission to collect more information, we only do this with your consent. There are a small number of situations where we collect the information in our legitimate interests for website security purposes.
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 because these are needed for the website to work properly.
For all other cookies, we need your consent. We use cookies to save your cookie preferences.
Your consent will last for 6 months from the date that you last gave it. After 6 months, we will ask you to give us consent again. We’ll ask for this the next time you use our website on the same device.
Types of cookies we use
The cookies we use are:
- strictly necessary cookies
- analytical cookies
- functional cookies
- YouTube cookies
- session cookies
Session cookies
This website uses session cookies. Session cookies are used to deliver the basic functions of a website. For example, to allow pages to remember technical changes or selections you may make between pages. For example, whether you prefer English or Irish as your language setting. Session cookies are temporary cookies and are generally erased when you close your browser.
How you can control your 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 give consent. You will find access to our cookie settings at the bottom of the HSE home page under ‘Cookie settings’.
No matter what cookie settings you choose, you should be able to visit all pages on our website. But some additional features may not be available to you. For example, if you have not accepted our YouTube cookies then videos will not play. In this case, you could enable the cookies for a short time so you can play the video and then disable the cookies again when you’re finished.
Browser settings
Within your browser you can choose if you want to accept cookies or not. Different browsers make different controls available to you. We provide links below to popular providers’ instructions on how you can do this.
Generally, your browser will offer you the choice to accept, refuse or delete cookies at all times, or those from providers that website owners use ‘third party cookies’, or those from specific websites.
Access to your cookies data
Only HSE staff and suppliers who are directly involved with providing services to our website will have access to cookies data collected by this website.
All HSE staff and suppliers who may have access to personal data are bound to the HSE through confidentiality and data protection agreements. They are obliged to keep your personal data secure. They can only use it for the purposes specified by the HSE.
Our suppliers are made up of:
- advertising, PR, digital and creative agencies
- market and customer research providers
- social media platforms
- website and app developers
- website hosting services providers
We have a contract with these suppliers to keep your information secure. They can only use this information with our specific instructions. We only disclose to them or allow them to access information that is necessary for them to provide their services.
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 our websites, then the social media account provider may be able to associate your account with the pages on our websites that you visit. They do this for their own purposes, not for us.
You should make yourself aware of the privacy policies of the social media providers that are present on our website.
Find out more about the policies of these social media channels below.
Data transfer 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.
On the pages that we use Google’s reCAPTCHA cookies, some information is transferred to Google USA.
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.
Data Protection Rights
Your data protection rights include the right to access, the right to object, the right to object to automated processing and the right to review your data.
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.
Making a complaint
If you are unhappy with the way that we have processed your personal data, contact the HSE’s Data Protection Officer.
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, you have the right to lodge a complaint with our supervisory authority, the Data Protection Commission 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 with how your complaint has been handled