Data Governance Board

The Data Governance Board (the Board) was established by the then Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019, in December 2021. The formation of the Board was a key milestone in the implementation of the Public Service Data Strategy 2021 – 2023.

’Data as an Enabler’ is one of the five pillars of the Strategy, highlighting the need to facilitate increased data sharing and the innovative use of data across all public bodies. One of the driving forces behind this was the establishment of the Data Governance Board.

The Board now meets regularly and plays a pivotal role in the delivery of data governance across the Public Service. The Board is independent in the performance of its functions with support provided by the Data Governance Unit in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. The Board has a clearly defined set of legal powers and obligations under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019. The Board can:

• advise the Minister on the introduction of data management standards and guidelines
• promote and report on compliance with standards and guidelines
• advise the Minister on the prohibition of collection of certain data by public bodies
• advise the Minister on directing public bodies to share data under the Act
• advise the Minister on the designation and operation of base registries
• review all data sharing agreements under the Act

The Data Governance Board is chaired by the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr. Barry Lowry.

Details of current membership of the Board are available on the State Boards website.

The Data Sharing Framework is made up of 4 parts:

• the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019
• a suite of new guidelines, rules and procedures for sharing data under the Act, designed to guide data officers and Public Service Bodies as they adhere to the legal obligations of the Act. All publications have focused on the use of plain English and are available online
• the Data Governance Board and its committees which plays a pivotal role in the Framework
• a Data Officer Network which allows the Board to communicate and engage with stakeholders across the Public Service

Membership of the Board encompasses a wide range of views from across industry, academia, legal, societal representation and technical spheres in addition to the Public Service.

This approach to data governance will help Ireland become an exemplar and European leader in the use of data.

Details of current membership of the Board are available on the State Boards website.

Biographical notes for members of the Data Governance Board are available below.

The Board has established four committees to date in order to provide them with targeted specialist advice in four key areas:

• Data Sharing Committee play a leading role in the introduction and promotion of rules, procedures, standards and guidelines for data sharing. Their work includes triaging and reviewing Data Sharing Agreements, and working with the Data Governance Board as part of the DSGA Data Sharing Playbook review process
• Data Architecture and Technical Committee plays a leading role in the introduction and promotion of technical guidelines and standards in the Public Service
• Data Safeguarding and Transparency Committee plays a leading role in ensuring that any transparency, privacy or data protection concerns that arise around the sharing or governance of data are managed in an ethical way
• Communications and Engagement Committee advises the Board on best practice for communicating and engaging with all stakeholders in a transparent manner

The current terms of reference for the Data Governance Board are available below.

The Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (the Act); enacted in March 2019, gives further effect to the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018.

It specifically clarifies the rules and exceptions of sharing citizens personal data between public bodies and gives surety and legality to those bodies wishing to begin disclosing or receiving data.

The Act was published in June 2018, passed in March 2019 and several sections of the legislation were immediately commenced. The second tranche of commencements in July 2021 allowed for establishment of the Data Governance Board.

The third and final commencement in December 2022 enacts the final section of the legislation, section 6 (2) and (3). Commencement of this removes the legal basis for the disclosure of personal data as defined in section (38) of the Data Protection Act 2019.

The Act is a substantial piece of legislation. It covers everything from the establishment of the Data Governance Board to the establishment of base registries. It sets out how to share personal data and improve data management across the Public Service. The essence of this legislation is the layer of transparent governance provided by the Data Governance Board and the Data Sharing Framework for sharing data; which differentiates it from other data sharing and processing legislation.

The Data Sharing and Governance Act legally permits the sharing of personal data, under particular rules and procedures. The introduction of the Act along with the dedicated support of the Data Governance Board and the Data Governance Unit in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) intends to enhance data sharing in general across the Public Sector.

The Board, in its advisory role to the Minister for Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform, has focused on best practice in the implementation of the Data Sharing Framework for sharing data under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019, bringing an international focus to data governance in the Irish Public Service.

The Board endeavours to meet regularly, approximately 7 times a year, both in person and online.

The Board and its committees also consider the longer-term requirements for ensuring that data is shared transparently for the benefit of the public, that it is maintained to ensure data integrity, and that it will only be used with the highest standards of data ethics applied.

Latest updates on the Board’s continuous work can be viewed in the most recently published Annual Report.

Meeting minutes of the Data Governance Board.

Press releases relating to the work of the Data Governance Board are available below.

2022

• Minister McGrath and Minister of State Smyth publish the first Annual Report of the Data Governance Board
• Minister McGrath welcomes publication of first Two Data Sharing Agreements for public consultation

2021

• Minister McGrath announces establishment of the Data Governance Board
• Minister McGrath and Minister of State Smyth announce enactment of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019

The third annual report of the Data Governance Board was published in December 2024. It is available below.

The second annual report of the Data Governance Board was published in December 2023. It is available below.

The first annual report of the Data Governance Board was published in June 2022. It is available below.

The Data Governance Board ensures that a layer of transparency is applied in sharing personal information between Public Service Bodies in line with the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 (DSGA). The DSGA Data Sharing Agreement Register contains details of the effective data sharing agreements that have been reviewed by the Board and successfully completed the processes set out in the DSGA Data Sharing Playbook.

Learn more about the Data Sharing Agreement Register.