Cookie Policy
Effective date: 1 July 2025
What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer, tablet, or mobile phone when you visit a website. They are widely used across the internet to make websites work properly, to improve the browsing experience, and to provide information to the owners of a website. When you visit ivca.ie, our web server sends one or more cookies to your device. Your browser stores these files and, on subsequent visits, sends them back to the server so that the website can recognise you and remember certain information, such as your preferences or login status.
Cookies do not contain executable code and cannot install malware on your device. They are simply small data files, typically containing a unique identifier, the name of the website that issued the cookie, and an expiry date.
Session cookies and persistent cookies
There are two broad categories of cookie based on how long they remain on your device. Session cookies are temporary. They exist only while your browser is open and are automatically deleted when you close it. They are commonly used to remember items in a shopping basket or to keep you logged in as you move between pages on a website. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period of time, or until you manually delete them. They are used to remember your preferences, recognise you as a returning visitor, and collect analytics data over time. The duration of a persistent cookie is determined by its expiry date, which is set by the website that created it.
First-party cookies and third-party cookies
First-party cookies are set by the website you are visiting. Only that website can read and use them. For example, a cookie set by ivca.ie can only be accessed by ivca.ie. Third-party cookies are set by a domain other than the one you are visiting. These cookies are typically placed by external services embedded in the page, such as analytics tools. For example, when we use Google Analytics on ivca.ie, Google may set cookies on your device under its own domain in order to collect usage data.
How We Use Cookies
The International Vital Code Association ("IVCA", "we", "us", "our") uses cookies on ivca.ie for the following general purposes:
- Essential website operation: Enabling core functionality such as user authentication, session management, and remembering your cookie consent preferences. Without these cookies, the website cannot function correctly.
- Functionality: Remembering your display preferences and settings so that you receive a consistent experience when you return to the site.
- Performance and analytics: Collecting anonymised information about how visitors use the website, which pages are most popular, and how users navigate between pages. This data helps us identify and resolve problems, and improve the overall user experience.
We do not use cookies for advertising, marketing, or behavioural targeting purposes. We do not sell or share cookie data with any third party for commercial purposes.
Cookie Categories
The cookies used on ivca.ie fall into the following categories. Each category is described below, together with the specific cookies it includes.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are essential for the basic operation of ivca.ie. They enable core functions such as page navigation, access to secure areas of the website, and remembering your cookie consent choices. These cookies do not collect any information about your browsing behaviour for marketing or analytics purposes.
Because these cookies are required for the website to function, they cannot be disabled through the cookie consent banner. If you block them through your browser settings, some parts of the website will not work as intended. Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, strictly necessary cookies do not require your consent, as they are essential to provide the service you have requested.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wordpress_logged_in_* | Identifies logged-in users and maintains authenticated sessions | Session |
| wordpress_sec_* | Stores authentication security details for logged-in users | Session |
| wordpress_test_cookie | Tests whether the browser accepts cookies | Session |
| ivca_cookie_consent | Records your cookie consent preferences | 12 months |
Functional Cookies
Functional cookies enable the website to remember choices you have made and provide enhanced, more personalised features. For example, they may remember your display preferences, your region, or the way content is laid out on the page. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these features may not function correctly, but the core website will still operate.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| wp-settings-* | Stores your WordPress interface preferences and display settings | 1 year |
| wp-settings-time-* | Records the time at which your WordPress settings were last changed | 1 year |
| elementor | Stores page display preferences used by the Elementor page builder | Session |
Performance and Analytics Cookies
Performance and analytics cookies collect information about how visitors use ivca.ie. They help us understand which pages are visited most frequently, how users navigate between pages, and whether users encounter error messages. All information collected by these cookies is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is used solely to improve how the website works.
We use Google Analytics to collect this data. Google Analytics is a widely used web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited. To protect your privacy, we have enabled IP anonymisation (also known as IP masking), which means that your IP address is truncated before it is stored or processed. Google Analytics does not identify you personally. The data collected includes:
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- The order in which pages are visited
- The website or search engine that referred you to ivca.ie
- Your browser type, operating system, and screen resolution
- Your approximate geographic location (country and city level, derived from the anonymised IP address)
- Whether you are a new or returning visitor
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique visitors by assigning a randomly generated identifier | 2 years |
| _ga_* | Used by Google Analytics 4 to maintain session state | 2 years |
| _gid | Distinguishes unique visitors over a 24-hour period | 24 hours |
Marketing Cookies
IVCA does not use any marketing, advertising, or behavioural targeting cookies. We do not serve advertisements on ivca.ie, we do not participate in advertising networks, and we do not track your browsing activity across other websites. No data collected through cookies on ivca.ie is used to build a profile of your interests or to serve you targeted content on other websites.
Detailed Cookie Table
The following table provides a comprehensive overview of all cookies that may be set when you visit ivca.ie.
| Cookie Name | Provider | Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wordpress_logged_in_* | ivca.ie | Strictly Necessary | Identifies logged-in users and maintains authenticated sessions | Session |
| wordpress_sec_* | ivca.ie | Strictly Necessary | Stores authentication security details for logged-in users | Session |
| wordpress_test_cookie | ivca.ie | Strictly Necessary | Tests whether the browser accepts cookies | Session |
| ivca_cookie_consent | ivca.ie | Strictly Necessary | Records your cookie consent preferences | 12 months |
| wp-settings-* | ivca.ie | Functional | Stores WordPress interface preferences and display settings | 1 year |
| wp-settings-time-* | ivca.ie | Functional | Records the time at which WordPress settings were last changed | 1 year |
| elementor | ivca.ie | Functional | Stores page display preferences used by the Elementor page builder | Session |
| _ga | Performance | Distinguishes unique visitors by assigning a randomly generated identifier | 2 years | |
| _ga_* | Performance | Used by Google Analytics 4 to maintain session state | 2 years | |
| _gid | Performance | Distinguishes unique visitors over a 24-hour period | 24 hours | |
| _gat_gtag_* | Performance | Used by Google Tag Manager to throttle request rate | 1 minute |
The asterisk (*) in certain cookie names indicates that part of the name is dynamically generated and will vary. For example, wordpress_logged_in_* will include a unique hash specific to the site installation.
How to Manage Cookies
Cookie consent banner
When you first visit ivca.ie, you will see a cookie consent banner. This banner allows you to accept or decline non-essential cookies (functional and performance cookies). Your choice is stored in the ivca_cookie_consent cookie so that you are not asked again on subsequent visits. You can change your preferences at any time by clearing your cookies and revisiting the site, which will cause the banner to appear again.
Browser settings
All modern browsers allow you to view, manage, and delete cookies through their settings. Below are links to cookie management instructions for the most commonly used browsers:
- Google Chrome: Clear, enable and manage cookies in Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox: Clear cookies and site data in Firefox
- Apple Safari: Manage cookies in Safari on Mac
- Microsoft Edge: Delete cookies in Microsoft Edge
If you use a different browser, please consult that browser's help documentation for instructions on managing cookies. You can also visit aboutcookies.org for general information about how to manage cookies across different browsers and devices.
Impact of Disabling Cookies
You are free to block or delete cookies at any time. However, please be aware that doing so may affect the functionality of ivca.ie. Specifically:
- Blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent the website from functioning correctly. You will not be able to log in, and session-based features will not work.
- Blocking functional cookies may mean that your display preferences are not remembered. You may need to re-enter settings each time you visit.
- Blocking performance cookies will prevent us from collecting anonymised analytics data. This will not affect your ability to use the website, but it will reduce our ability to improve the site based on visitor behaviour.
Disabling cookies will not prevent you from accessing the publicly available pages of ivca.ie, but logged-in features such as member account management and the member dashboard will not function without strictly necessary cookies enabled.
Do Not Track
Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting that sends a signal to websites requesting that your browsing activity is not tracked. There is currently no universally accepted standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals, and no legal requirement under GDPR to do so.
IVCA does not currently alter its data collection or use practices in response to DNT signals. However, we want to assure you that we do not engage in cross-site tracking, behavioural profiling, or targeted advertising. Our use of analytics cookies is limited to anonymised, aggregated data for the sole purpose of improving the website. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking at any time by using the methods described in the Third-Party Cookies section below.
Third-Party Cookies
The only third-party cookies set on ivca.ie are those placed by Google Analytics. These cookies are set under Google's domain and are used to collect anonymised data about how visitors interact with the website. Google processes this data on our behalf under a data processing agreement that complies with GDPR requirements.
Google Analytics cookies do not identify you personally. With IP anonymisation enabled, your full IP address is never stored or transmitted to Google's servers. The data collected is used exclusively to generate aggregated reports about website usage patterns.
If you would prefer not to be tracked by Google Analytics on any website, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This add-on is available for all major browsers and prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript code from sending data to Google Analytics. Installing this add-on will affect Google Analytics tracking on all websites you visit, not just ivca.ie.
You can also prevent Google Analytics cookies from being set by using your browser's cookie management settings to block cookies from the domain google-analytics.com, or by declining performance cookies through our cookie consent banner.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, changes in technology, or changes in applicable law. When we make changes, we will update the "Effective date" at the top of this page. If we make significant changes to the types of cookies we use or the purposes for which we use them, we will take reasonable steps to notify you, such as displaying a notice on the website or updating the cookie consent banner so that you are asked to review your preferences again.
We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies. Your continued use of ivca.ie after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, about the cookies we use, or about how to manage your cookie preferences, please contact us at:
Email: info@vitalcodeassociation.com
International Vital Code Association (IVCA)
[Registered address]
For detailed information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.