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Updated to 16 April 2025 (Act No. 2 of 2025 and S.I. No. 141 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Data Protection Act 2018
No. 7 of 2018

Contents

Commencement

SectionCommencement DateCommencement Information
S. 1 24 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 2
Ss. 2-6 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 7(1), (2) 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 7(3) except insofar as it relates to the revocation of S.I. No. 95 of 1993, insofar as those regulations relate to the functions of the Central Bank of Ireland to which reg. 3 of those regulations applies 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 7(3) insofar as it relates to the revocation of S.I. No. 95 of 1993, insofar as those regulations relate to the functions of the Central Bank of Ireland to which reg. 3 of those regulations applies 30 October 2019 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 532 of 2019), art. 2
S. 7(4) 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 8 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 9 24 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 2
Ss. 10-24 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 25 1 January 2020 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 570 of 2019), art. 2(a)
Ss. 26-29 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 30 Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(3)
Ss. 31-175 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 176(a) 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
S. 176(b) 1 January 2020 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 570 of 2019), art. 2(b)
Ss. 177-232 25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3
Schs. 1, 2, 3  25 May 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Commencement) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 174 of 2018), art. 3

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision Affecting Provision
Commencement Date		 Commencement Source
Application of Act restricted, personal data may be exchanged in certain circumstances European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 113 of 2022), reg. 31 11 March 2022 European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 113 of 2022), reg. 1(d)
  European Union (Imports of Animals and Animal Products from Third Countries) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 656 of 2020, reg. 38 17 December 2020 European Union (Imports of Animals and Animal Products from Third Countries) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 656 of 2020
  European Union (Official Controls in relation to Food Legislation) (Imports of Food of Non-Animal Origin) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No 575 of 2020), reg. 4(3) 3 December 2020 European Union (Official Controls in relation to Food Legislation) (Imports of Food of Non-Animal Origin) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No 575 of 2020)
  European Union (Plant Health) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 459 of 2020), reg. 73(1) 23 October 2020 European Union (Plant Health) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 459 of 2020)
  European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 79 of 2020, reg. 3(5) 13 March 2020 European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 79 of 2020)
  European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 22 of 2020), reg. 22 27 January 2020 European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 22 of 2020)
  European Union (Temporary Increase of Official Controls and Emergency Measures on Imports of Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 9 of 2020), reg. 20 14 January 2020 European Union (Temporary Increase of Official Controls and Emergency Measures on Imports of Food and Feed of Non-Animal Origin) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 9 of 2020)
  European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 674 of 2019), reg. 22 19 December 2019 European Union (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 674 of 2019)
  European Communities (Sustainable Use of Pesticides) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 155 of 2012), reg. 11(8) as substituted by European Communities (Sustainable Use of Pesticides) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 438 of 2019), reg. 2(e) 29 August 2019 European Communities (Sustainable Use of Pesticides) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 438 of 2019)
  Greyhound Racing Act 2019 (15/2019), ss. 1(5), 58 1 October 2020 Greyhound Racing Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 399 of 2020), art. 2(e)
S. 2 amended Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (7/2024), ss. 1(3), 44(a) 31 March 2024 Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 123 of 2024), art. 2(d)
S. 15(10)(d) substituted Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 (7/2004), schedule 2, pt. 3 as inserted by 39/2018, s. 7, schedule 26 December 2018 Commenced on enactment
S. 26A inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 74 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 38 application restricted Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (5/2019), ss. 1(2), 6(2) Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 189 of 2019), art. 2(f)
S. 38(4) application restricted Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (5/2019), ss. 1(2), 6(3) Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2019 (S.I. No. 189 of 2019), art. 2(f)
S. 39(3)(c) substituted Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (7/2024), ss. 1(3), 44(b) 31 March 2024 Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 123 of 2024), art. 2(d)
S. 48(b) substituted Electoral Reform Act 2022 (30/2022), ss. 1(5), 71(a) 9 February 2023 Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 32 of 2023), art. 2(c)
S. 58(b) substituted Electoral Reform Act 2022 (30/2022), ss. 1(5), 71(b) 9 February 2023 Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 32 of 2023), art. 2(c)
S. 59(b) substituted Electoral Reform Act 2022 (30/2022), ss. 1(5), 71(c) 9 February 2023 Electoral Reform Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 32 of 2023), art. 2(c)
S. 60(3)(c) substituted European Union (Data Protection Act 2018) (Amendment of section 60) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 610 of 2024), reg. 2(a) 5 November 2024 European Union (Data Protection Act 2018) (Amendment of section 60) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 610 of 2024)
S. 60(3A) inserted European Union (Data Protection Act 2018) (Amendment of section 60) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 610 of 2024), reg. 2(b) 5 November 2024 European Union (Data Protection Act 2018) (Amendment of section 60) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 610 of 2024)
S. 71 insofar as it relates to ss. 87, 90, 91, 92, 93 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 87 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 90 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 91 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 92 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 93 application restricted Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1, 3 1 August 2018 Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018), rls. 1
S. 109(5)(da) inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 75 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 113(6) amended Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 76(a) 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 113(6)(aa) inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 76(b) 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 117(3) substituted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 77(a) 11 January 2024 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Section 77) (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 6 of 2024), art. 2
S. 117(5A) inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 77(b) 11 January 2024 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Section 77) (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 6 of 2024), art. 2
S. 117(6A) inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 77(c) 11 January 2024 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Section 77) (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 6 of 2024), art. 2
S. 117A substituted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 78 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 117A inserted European Union (Enforcement of Data Subjects’ Rights on Transfer of Personal Data Outside the European Union) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 297 of 2021), reg. 2 24 June 2021 European Union (Enforcement of Data Subjects’ Rights on Transfer of Personal Data Outside the European Union) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 297 of 2021)
S. 122(4)(da) inserted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 79 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)
S. 150(12)(a), (b) substituted Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (18/2023), ss. 1(4), 80 31 July 2023 Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 389 of 2023), art. 3(l)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 9 Data Protection Act 2018 (Establishment Day) Order 2018 (S.I. No. 175 of 2018)
S. 36(2) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 18 of 2021)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 188 of 2019)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 188 of 2019)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 36(2)) (Health Research) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 314 of 2018)
S. 38(4) Data Protection Act 2018 (Control of Data for the Inquiry into the Historical Licensing and Use of Sodium Valproate) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 752 of 2024)
S. 38(4)(b) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 38(4)(b)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 624 of 2024)
S. 51(3) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 51(3)) (Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 623 of 2024)
S. 60(5)(a) Data Protection Act 2018 (Access Modification) (Health) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 121 of 2022)
S. 60(6) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 603 of 2022)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 602 of 2022)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 601 of 2022)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Office of the Ombudsman) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 221 of 2022)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (section 60(6)) (Central Bank of Ireland) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 534 of 2020)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 60(6)) (Central Bank of Ireland) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 537 of 2019)
S. 158(3) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 158(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 658 of 2018)
S. 159(1) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(1)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 659 of 2018)
S. 159(2) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(2)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 661 of 2018)
S. 159(3) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(3)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 663 of 2018)
S. 159(4) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(4)) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 665 of 2018)
S. 159(7) Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(7): District Court) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 664 of 2018)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(7): Circuit Court Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 662 of 2018)
  Data Protection Act 2018 (Section 159(7): Superior Courts) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 660 of 2018)