S.I. No. 537/2025 - Data Protection Act 1988 (Section 2B) Regulations 2025

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 14th November, 2025.

WHEREAS the Government on 9 July 2024 agreed to assist the Omagh Bombing Inquiry (being an inquiry under the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland entitled the Inquiries Act 2005 into whether the bombing in the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, on 15 August 1998, could have been prevented by United Kingdom state authorities);

AND WHEREAS the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on behalf of the Government, agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on 15 April 2025 on matters relating to the disclosure of materials;

AND WHEREAS sections 2 (amended by section 3 of the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 (No. 6 of 2003)) and 2A (inserted by section 4 of the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003) of the Data Protection Act 1988 (No. 25 of 1988) have been complied with;

AND WHEREAS there are reasons of substantial public interest for the making of the following regulations;

NOW I, JIM O’CALLAGHAN, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in exercise of the powers conferred on me by subsection (1)(b)(xi) of section 2B (inserted by section 4 of the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 ) of the Data Protection Act 1988 (as adapted by the Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2025 ( S.I. No. 242 of 2025 )), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Data Protection Act 1988 (Section 2B) Regulations 2025.

2. The processing of sensitive personal data by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, or a person acting on behalf of the Minister, is authorised for the purpose of enabling the Minister, on behalf of the Government, to assist the Omagh Bombing Inquiry (being an inquiry under the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland entitled the Inquiries Act 2005 into whether the bombing in the town of Omagh, County Tyrone, on 15 August 1998, could have been prevented by

United Kingdom state authorities) in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, on behalf of the Government, and the Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on 15 April 2025 on matters relating to the disclosure of materials.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

10 November, 2025.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN,

Minsiter for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration .