Northern Ireland Assembly Commission Cookies and Privacy Policy
The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy sets out how the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission uses and protects any information we collect from you, or that you provide to us, when you use our website www.niassembly.gov.uk. Please read the policy to understand our views and practices regarding personal data and how we will treat it. By using our site, you indicate that you accept these terms of use and that you agree to abide by them.
For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the data controller is The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission, Parliament Buildings, Ballymiscaw, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3XX.
In order to provide full access to our website we sometimes need to collect information about you and how it will be used. This Privacy Policy provides details on the use of cookies on the website and how you can control and delete these cookies. This policy therefore applies to information we collect about:
- Visitors to our website;
- Feedback information you provide to us through the website;
- Personal Details you provide in requesting further information and subscribing to information through the website.
Visitors to our website
When someone visits our website at www.niassembly.gov.uk we collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. We collect this information in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting any part of our website. We will not associate any data gathered from this site with any personally identifying information from any source. If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and we will explain what we intend to do with it.
The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is committed to safeguarding your personal information. Whenever you provide such information, we are legally obliged to use your information in line with all laws concerning the protection of personal information, including the Data Protection Act 1998.
Managing or deleting cookies
All recent versions of popular browsers, like Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, allow you to control cookies. You can set your browser to:
- accept all cookies
- reject all cookies
- accept or reject only certain cookies
For example, you might be happy to accept a cookie that allows you to log in to a website, but want to reject ones which are used to build a profile of how you use the internet.
You should also be able to set your browser to prompt you each time a cookie is offered.
Visit the Information Commissioner’s Office website to find out how to control or delete cookies.
How we use cookies
We use cookies for two reasons:
- to improve your experience on the website. This might include making it quicker and easier for you to find what you need, or remembering your settings.
- to collect information about how you use our website through Google Analytics (GA). GA is a tool that produces detailed statistics about website activity. It allows us to see where the website can better meet our users' needs.
The cookies we use
This policy covers cookies that are set on www.niassembly.gov.uk and aims.niassembly.gov.uk.
Essential cookies used on www.niassembly.gov.uk
| Cookie | Description | Duration for which the cookie is retained |
|---|---|---|
|
CookieControl |
This cookie is used to remember your choice about cookies on www.niassembly.gov.uk. |
90 days
|
|
ASP.NET_SessionId |
ASP.Net_SessionId is a cookie which is used to identify the users session on the server. The session being an area on the server which can be used to store session state in between http requests. |
Session
|
Optional cookies used on www.niassembly.gov.uk
Video cookies
YouTube embedded player
| Example cookies | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| AEC, APISID, HSID, NID, SAPISID, SID*, SSID, SOCS _Secure*, PREF, VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, VSC | We embed videos from our official YouTube channel. We have recently starting using YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode. You can read about YouTube’s privacy-enhanced mode on YouTube’s embedding videos information page. If you visit a page containing a YouTube video and are logged in to a YouTube or Google account, Google may use cookies for security purposes, remember your preferences, and receive information about the videos you watch for analytics and advertising purposes cookies and collect data linked to your Google account. For more information, see the Google Privacy Policy. | Between 180 and 400 days |
Vimeo embedded player
| Example cookies | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _cf*, _ga*, _gid, _uet*, _builderSessionid, language, Optanon*, sd_client_id, vimeo*, vuid, _cfuvid, __cf_bm | We embed videos from our official Vimeo channel. We have recently started embedding these videos using Vimeo’s Do Not Track setting. You can read about this on Vimeo’s embedding videos page. Vimeo may use cookies to enable the video to play, remember your preferences and maintain the security of its service. If you visit a page containing a Vimeo video and you are logged in to your Vimeo account or if you’ve visited the Vimeo website before the assemblyresearchmatters website, Vimeo may use cookies eg to keep you logged in, for analytics and advertising purposes, and collect data linked to your Vimeo account. For more information, see the Vimeo cookies policy. | Between 0 and 400 days |
* indicates various cookies that contain additional letters, numbers or characters in their name.
Tableau Public
Tableau Public is a data visualisation tool used to display the facts and figures in relation to the Assembly and sustainable development (for example, how much energy we use and how much waste we recycle).
Tableau Public uses session cookies, tableau_locale and tableau_public_negotiated_locale, so that you can access the full functionality of the tool.
Essential cookies used on aims.niassembly.gov.uk
| Cookie | Description | Duration for which the cookie is retained |
|---|---|---|
|
CookieControl |
This cookie is used to remember your choice about cookies on aims.niassembly.gov.uk. |
90 days |
|
ARRAffinity |
When using Microsoft Azure as a hosting platform and enabling load balancing, this cookie ensures that requests from one visitor's browsing session are always handled by the same server in the cluster. |
Session |
|
ARRAffinitySameSite |
When using Microsoft Azure as a hosting platform and enabling load balancing, this cookie ensures that requests from one visitor's browsing session are always handled by the same server in the cluster. |
Session |
Analytics cookies used on www.niassembly.gov.uk and aims.niassembly.gov.uk
The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google. Google Analytics sets cookies on the Research Matters website on its behalf in order to compile reports for us on user activity. These cookies enable Google to determine whether you are a returning visitor to the site, and to track the pages that you visit during your session. They are set only after you have given us consent to use analytical cookies.
Google may transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. By using the Research Matters website and consenting to the collection of cookie data (by toggling Analytical Cookies ‘on’ in the cookie banner), you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. If you would like more information about the cookies used by Google Analytics, as well as information on how to opt-out, please see the Google privacy policy. For more information you can also read Google's information on safeguarding your data.
The information below contains information on the cookies that may be set by the analytics service.
| Cookie | Description | Duration for which the cookie is retained |
|---|---|---|
| PHPSESSID | To identify the unique session of each user on our website | session |
| SESS | To ensure that a user is recognised when they move from page to page within the site and that any information they have entered is remembered. | session |
| _utma | ID used to identify users and sessions | 2 years |
| _ga | ID used to identify users | 1 year |
| _ga_* | Used to identify and track an individual user session. | 2 years |
| _gat | Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager | 58 seconds |
| _gat_* | Used to set and get tracking data | 1 hour |
| _gid | ID used to identify users for 24 hours | 24 hours |
| _utmb | Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server. | session |
| _utmc | Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session. | session |
| _utmz | This keeps track of where the visitor came from, what search engine was used, what link was clicked on, what keyword was used, and where the user was in the world when they accessed a website. This cookie is how Google Analytics knows to whom and to what source / medium / keyword to assign the credit for a Goal Conversion or an Ecommerce Transaction. | 6 months |
How to reject or delete these cookies
To reject Google Analytics cookies, simply toggle analytics cookies off in our cookie banner.
If you would like more information about the cookies used by Google Analytics please see their individual privacy policy.
If you would like to opt out of google analytics tracking, you can download and install an add-on for your browser that will allow you to do this:
Cookies set by Third Party Sites and Information gathered by Third Party Sites
When you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube or Twitter, you may be presented with cookies from these websites and you may provide personal information to these sights when you sign up for notifications and subscriptions or when you leave a comment.
Please not that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission does not control the dissemination of these cookies or the information you provide them. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about these and urge you to review these as they will govern the use of information you submit or which is collected by cookies whilst visiting these websites.
- Facebook – www.facebook.com/about/privacy
- Twitter - http://twitter.com/privacy
- Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/pages/privacy
- Youtube - http://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/policies/privacy/
- Flickr Privacy Policy - http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/uk/yahoo/
- MailChimp - https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/
- Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/privacy
To find out more about cookies, including how to see what cookies have been set and how to manage and delete them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org
To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites visit http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Information we may collect from you - Feedback Forms
When we receive your feedback through the website we only use the personal information we collect to check on the level of service we provide and retain the personal information in line with our retention policy. This information is not stored on the website.
Information we may collect from you - Enquiries / Subscriptions
We have to hold the details of the people who have requested information in order to provide the information/updates. We only use the information supplied to respond to the enquiry or provide the information to the person as requested. We retain this information in line with our retention and disposal policy. This information is not stored on the website. We do not use information for marketing purposes and do not pass personal information on to anyone else. When people do subscribe to information from our website, they can cancel their subscription at any time by using the unsubscribe link on the email they are sent.
To manage subscriptions we use the email automation platform, Mailchimp. To unsubscribe from any newsletters or subscriptions that you have signed up for, simply click on the unsubscribe link provided in all emails. For more information please read the MailChimp privacy policy and the MailChimp cookie statement.
How long do you keep my personal data?
We will only retain your data for as long as necessary to process and in line with our Retention and Disposal Schedule
What rights do I have?
- You have the right to obtain confirmation that your data is being processed, and access to your personal data
- You are entitled to have personal data rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete
- You have a right to have personal data erased and to prevent processing, in specific circumstances
- You have the right to ‘block’ or suppress processing of personal data, in specific circumstances
- You have the right to data portability, in specific circumstances
- You have the right to object to the processing, in specific circumstances
- You have rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling
Changes to this privacy notice
This privacy notice will be reviewed and updated regularly.
How do I complain if I am not happy?
If you are unhappy with how any aspect of this privacy notice, or how your personal information is being processed, please contact the NI Assembly Information Standards Officer at:
Data Controller Name:
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
Address:
Parliament Buildings,
Ballymiscaw,
Stormont,
Belfast
BT4 3XX
Information Standards Officer:
Donna-Marie Clark
Email: Donna-Marie.Clark@niassembly.gov.uk
Tel: 028 90 521147
If you are still not happy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 0303 123 1113
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Recent Updates:
11 October 2024 (Updated cookie information following the installation of the CIVIC Cooke Control Cookie Management Platform)
27 March 2023 (General review of information)
5 May 2022 (General review of policy, links and information)
4 April 2022 (Enquiries and Subscriptions section updated to remove reference to a subscription platform no longer being used.)
20 October 2021 (Information Standards Officer information updated)
19 July 2021 (Cookie information updated.)
