Using Our Website and Cookie Policy
Like many websites, www.bonsecours.ie uses "cookies" to enable us to personalise your visits to our website, enhance the experience of our website visitors, keep track of your preferences and to track the usage of Bon Secours Health System's website.
This cookie policy relates to www.bonsecours.ie and any of its subdomains. Please note that you will be asked to re-consent to the use of all cookies after a 6-month period.
What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a small text file stored on your computer or mobile device containing data related to a website you visit. It may allow a website "remember" your actions or preferences over a period of time, or it may contain data related to the function or delivery of the site. Cookies can be set by the owner of the website or in some cases by third party service providers, to which the website owner has given permission to present other information, run content or provide other functionality such as analytics.
There are two main categories of cookies - 'persistent' cookies and 'session' cookies. A session cookie, will only last as long as the user session lasts, so will be deleted once the web browser is closed. A persistent cookie, however, will continue to be stored by the browser even after the user session ends. Generally, it will be stored until it reaches its set expiry date or unless deleted by the user before that date.
Cookies do not always contain information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies. When cookies can identify an individual via their device, it is considered personal data.
As well as being 'persistent' or 'session', different types of cookies can be used for different purposes. Different types of cookies include:
- Essential cookies: are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, which may cause some parts of the site to not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
- Analytical/performance cookies: They allow the website to recognise and count the number of visitors and to see how visitors move around the website when they are using it. This helps to improve the way websites work, for example, by ensuring that users are finding what they are looking for easily.
- Functionality cookies: These are used to recognise you when you return to a website. This enables personalisation of content for you, greeting you by name and remembering your preferences (for example, your choice of language or region).
- Targeting cookies: These cookies record your visit to a website, the pages you have visited and the links you have followed. This information is used to make websites, and the advertising displayed on them, more relevant to your interests. The operator of the website may also share this information with third parties for this purpose.
Further information on cookies can be found at the Europa.eu website.
Bon Secours Health System, CLG operates Cookies in accordance with the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC as amended by 2009/136/EC), and the Irish ePrivacy Regulations, implemented by Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 336 of 2011 which complement GDPR.
Managing Cookies
Within your browser you can choose whether you wish to accept cookies or not. Different browsers make different controls available to you and so we provide links below to popular manufacturers' 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.
Third Party Cookies
Cookies on Bon Secours website do not always originate from our website. Third parties, such as advertisers may also use cookies to collect certain information on website users, often for purposes such as data analytics (statistics on website use, for example), to support the website or targeted advertising. Providers of third-party cookies will have their own privacy notice and cookie policy which will tell you how and why they use cookies. We have listed the third-party cookies used on the Bon Secours website in the tables below as appropriate. Bon Secours do not take responsibility for the gathering and use of data by third party cookies, such as YouTube – the use of these cookies is governed by the third party’s own cookie policy.
Changes to this Cookie policy
Bon Secours will occasionally update this cookie policy to reflect changes in our practices and services. When we post changes to this cookie policy, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this cookie policy. If we make any material changes in the way we collect, use, and/or share information held in cookies, we will notify you by prominently posting notice of the changes on the website. We recommend that you check this page from time to time to inform yourself of any changes to this cookie policy.
You can also modify your cookie preferences for our website at any time by clicking on the 'Cookie settings’ link at the bottom of every page or click on the 'Cookie' icon in the bottom left of every page after your interaction with the cookie banner.
Last updated: 06 October 2025