Minutes of Open Data Governance board meeting 1 February, 2017
20 February 2017Attendance: Emer Coleman (Chair), Dennis Jennings, Denis Parfenov, Sandra Collins, Cronan McNamara, Dietrich Rebholz, Sue Duke, Barry Lowry, Ashling Cunningham
Apologies: Andrew O’Sullivan, Daithí Mac Síthigh
Secretariat: Evelyn O'Connor, Fiona Morley Clarke, Marian Beakey
A number of documents had issued to the Board in advance of the meeting as follows:
- Note of meeting on 30th November, 2016;
- Progress report;
- Submissions from librarians/information professionals on foot of their meeting with the Board at the November meeting;
- Draft Open Data Strategy 2017-2021 for observations.
The items on the agenda were discussed as set out below:
1. Minutes of 30th November meeting.
The Minutes were taken as approved and it was noted that these have been published on the portal.
2. Matters Arising from the last meeting
Engagement Fund
As outlined in the Progress Report circulated, all of the agreed funding allocated under the Engagement Fund has been issued and the Open Data Unit has asked all of the successful applicants to report back on progress on their initiatives by end March 2017. A blog on the Engagement Fund giving details of the successful applicants has been put on the portal.
Librarians
On foot of the meeting with the librarians at the November meeting, written papers were received from Philip Cohen, DIT, Kate Kelly (RCSI) and Brian Galvin (HRB). These had been circulated to the Board and the contents of same was noted.
Discussion on Anonymisation
It was suggested that we invite the CSO to a future meeting of the Board to discuss the role, if any, that the Board might play in respect of anonymisation of Open Data. This will be considered for the next meeting.
Progress Report
The contents of the Progress Report circulated in advance of the meeting was discussed. In particular it was noted that the Open Data Unit will be supporting a hackathon taking place on Friday 10th February using HSE, LGMA and other government open data to try and make finding and using government services easier. The hackathon will feature open datasets for eircoded health and local government services and the prize money is being sponsored by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It was suggested that a blog on the hackathon should be put on the portal in due course. It was agreed that Progress Reports submitted to the Board in advance of each meeting should also be published on the portal.
It was also noted that the RFT to put a framework in place for open data training is now live with a closing date of 01 March and that the RFT to put a framework in place for open data technical support is close to being finalised and should go live shortly.
Action 1 (Secretariat) Invite CSO to a future meeting to discuss anonymisation to enable the Board decide their role if any on this aspect of data. Also seek the views of Data Protection Commissioner/Rob Kitchen, NUIM if required.
Action 2 (Secretariat) ensure that a blog on the hackathon is put on the portal in due course
Action 3 (Secretariat) arrange for Progress Reports to be published on the portal
3. Presentation by Dave Corley, Open Street Map Ireland
Dave Corley sent late apologies. Secretariat have advised him that he can present at a future meeting.
Action 4 (Secretariat) Invite Dave Corley to meet with the board and give a presentation on Open Map Ireland at a future meeting.
4. Discussion on draft Open Data Strategy
It was noted that the main focus of the meeting was to work through and agree the detail of the draft Open Data Strategy for 2017-2020. This was circulated to the Board for observations and comments received back from Dennis Jennings were incorporated into the daft which was then recirculated to the Board in advance of the meeting.
The draft Strategy had also been circulated to the Open Data Public Bodies Working Group for comments (on 25 January 2017). Some observations were received back from members of this group for consideration by the Board.
The Secretariat took the Board through the Strategy to discuss and agree the wording. The comments received from the Public Bodies Working Group were also discussed and agreed where relevant.
The Secretariat is to circulate a further draft in due course.
It was noted that once the Strategy is approved by the ODGB, it will need to be submitted to Government for approval. The Board proposed that, subject to Government approval, the draft Strategy would be published for consultation.
5. Any Other Business
HSE/Health Data
The availability of health data and the non-standardised approach to health data had been raised at the previous meeting. It was agreed that the Secretariat would invite the HSE to a future meeting to discuss same.
Action 5 (Secretariat)
Invite HSE officials to the next meeting to discuss availability of health data as open data (Richard Corbridge or Fran Thompson were suggested)
Action 6 (Secretariat)
Take on board agreed amendments to the draft strategy and recirculate to the board. Finalise dates for meeting in Q3 and Q4 2017
6. AOB (a) Next meeting
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 25th April. Dates for the remainder of 2017 to be agreed.
Action 7 (Secretariat) Circulate suggested dates for meetings in 2017
_______________________
Open Data Unit
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
1 February 2017
Derilinx