A new European Union-wide framework known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force across the EU on 25 May 2018.
A new European Union-wide framework known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force across the EU on 25 May 2018.
An accompanying Directive establishes data protection standards in the area of criminal offences and penalties. This is known as the law enforcement Directive.
The GDPR and the law enforcement Directive provide for significant reforms to current data protection rules. They provide for higher standards of data protection for individuals and impose increased obligations on organisations that process personal data. They also increase the range of possible sanctions for infringements of these rules.
This document outlines the main elements of the GDPR and links to further information about it.
The GDPR and Ireland
As an EU regulation, the GDPR did not generally require transposition into Irish law (EU regulations have direct effect), so organisations involved in data processing of any sort need to be aware that the GDPR addresses them directly in terms of the obligations that it imposes.
You can read about these obligations and the concepts and principles involved.
The Data Protection Act 2018 was signed into law on 24 May 2018. The Act changes the previous data protection framework, which was established under the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 (pdf).
Among its provisions, the Act has:
- Established a new Data Protection Commission as the State’s data protection authority
- Transposed the law enforcement Directive into national law
- Given further effect to the GDPR in areas where member states have flexibility (for example, the digital age of consent)
Types of data
Under the GDPR, personal data is data that relates to or can identify a living person, either by itself or together with other available information. Examples of personal data include a person’s name, phone number, bank details and medical history.
A data subject is the individual to whom the personal data relates. You can read more in our document Your rights under the GDPR.
Organisations that collect or use personal data are known as data controllers and data processors. You can read about the obligations of data controllers and processors and the concepts and principles involved.
- The data subject’s racial or ethnic origin, their political opinions or their religious or philosophical beliefs
- Whether the data subject is a member of a trade union
- The data subject’s physical or mental health or condition or sexual life
- Whether the data subject has committed or allegedly committed any offence
- Any proceedings for an offence committed or alleged to have been committed by the data subject, the disposal of such proceedings or the sentence of any court in such proceedings
The processing of special category data is prohibited unless the data subject has given their explicit consent before processing begins or the processing is authorised by law, for example, to protect the interests of a data subject, to comply with employment legislation or for reasons of public interest.
Personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences may only be processed under the control of an official authority.
Non-EU organisations processing the personal data of EU citizens must appoint a representative located in the EU.
Further information
Read about the legislation relating to the GDPR. There is further detailed information about the GDPR on dataprotection.ie and on the dedicated website gdprandyou.ie.
House sales to UK buyers climb as ‘Brexit refugees’ outbid Irish-based home buyers by 10% over the past year putting pressure on the housing market.
Property sales to UK-based buyers have increased by 10% over the past year, putting pressure on the already stretched housing market.
New data has found that almost half of estate agents nationwide have seen an increase in enquiries from the UK for properties here over the past year with Brexit on the horizon.
The data from estate agents all over Ireland show that Brexit is proving to be double-edged sword – which is helping to drive sales of property but also putting further pressure on the stretched market.
Buyers are a mix of Irish emigrants who want to return home, British workers who want to relocate to Ireland or those who wish to retire here.
Sales to UK-based buyers have now increased by 10% on average over the past year.
And the majority of homebuyers are looking at middle market properties.
While the average house price in the State is €234,824, 20% of sales to UK buyers are ranked higher in price, standing generally at between €250,000-€300,000 with 22% between €300,000-€500,000.
The survey also showed that almost one in five property transactions from the UK was directly caused as a result of Brexit. Overall, this translated into more than one in 20 sales coming from the UK.
Although the buyers include Irish emigrants returning home, there is a significant number who have never lived¬ here but want to relocate.
“UK buyers make up 11% of overall enquiries and 6% of sales in the Irish market, with our agents reporting an average of five sales each last year, up 10%¬¬¬ on the previous 12 months,” said REA spokesperson Barry McDonald.
“While 52% of enquiries are coming from returned emigrants, 28% have no previous connection with the country, which we would note as a significant shift.”
Overall, 12% of UK enquiries were caused by jobs moving directly from the UK to Ireland. “We see 17% of enquiries to REA agents citing Brexit as a direct reason for moving to Ireland,” said Mr McDonald.
“We find that 23% are coming to live and work in Ireland, which is up from 16% in our comparable 2016 survey.”
While the majority will be working in Ireland full-time, a sizeable number will be working from home and one in five of these intends to commute.
The typical UK buyer is looking for a rural property (55%).
The survey also shows that 27% are buying for retirement, 16% are investors, 11% are looking for a change in lifestyle, and 85 are buying holiday homes. Almost 40% were from London or the south east of England.
Independent Oct 2018
https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/house-sales-to-uk-buyers-climb-as-brexit-refugees-outbid-irishbased-homebuyers-37419711.html
As the Central Statistics Office reported the first fall in house prices in Dublin in almost a year, Investec Ireland published a major report forecasting that 2014 would be the year of the housing market recovery.
As the Central Statistics Office reported the first fall in house prices in Dublin in almost a year, Investec Ireland published a major report forecasting that 2014 would be the year of the housing market recovery.
Read more from the Irish Examiner
http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/investec-predicts-2014-housing-market-recovery-260433.html
