Retention

If you do not wish to continue to be a member of the Society, we will delete your personally identifiable information four (4) years after your membership expires unless you update your communication preferences by going online or contacting the helpline. This retention period is based on the following legal bases and criteria:

1. Legitimate Interest: We retain your data to support the ongoing operations and administration of the Society. This includes maintaining a record of past members for research and statistical purposes, and for re-engagement activities, ensuring we can inform you of relevant updates or opportunities that may benefit you. Our legitimate interest is to maintain the Society as a sustainable organization, ensuring continuity and the ability to support current and former members effectively. The four-year retention period is deemed appropriate for balancing our operational needs with your privacy rights.

2. Consent: If you have provided consent for specific purposes, such as participating in research studies or receiving communications beyond your membership period, we will retain your data in line with the consent provided. You can withdraw your consent at any time, and we will delete your data unless it is retained for other lawful reasons.

3. Contractual Obligation: We retain your data to fulfill any contractual obligations we may have had during your membership, such as processing any outstanding financial transactions or handling any related legal and financial requirements. The four-year period allows us to address any post-membership issues comprehensively.

Legal and Financial Requirements

We are required to retain certain data to comply with legal and financial regulations, such as tax laws and financial reporting obligations. These requirements necessitate retaining transaction records and other relevant information for specified periods as mandated by law. The four-year retention period ensures we meet these obligations without keeping data longer than necessary.

Research and Statistical Support

As the only organization in Ireland with a register of people with coeliac disease, retaining your data helps us support ongoing research and campaigning efforts. This retention is essential for providing anonymized group data and personal data for studies, provided we have your consent. The data aids in understanding, managing, and eventually finding a cure for coeliac disease.

Data Deletion Request

If you would like us to remove your data (except for information we must retain for legal and financial reasons), please contact us via the helpline or email info@coeliac.ie. We will promptly delete your data as requested.