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CCPC ‘set for new data-sharing role’

Lawyers at Pinsent Masons understand that the Government will give the competition watchdog a new role in facilitating data sharing under rules designed to comply with EU legislation.

Last month, the European Commission started infringement proceedings against Ireland for not designating the competent authorities to implement the EU’s Data Governance Act (DGA), which is aimed at promoting greater data sharing by businesses and public bodies.

In a note on the firm’s website, the Pinsent Masons lawyers point out that the commission sent its letter despite the fact that Ireland had introduced new legislation relevant to the implementation of the DGA in June.

‘Competent authorities’

The lawyers say that the European Union (European Data Governance Act) Regulations 2024 designated the Central Statistics Office as a ‘competent body’ to facilitate the re-use of public sector data.

They add, however, that there is no similar designation of ‘competent authorities’ for the purposes of the EU legislation.

Explaining the difference between the two, Pinsent Masons says that ‘competent authorities’ are responsible for the registration and supervision of data-altruism organisations – organisations that make their data available for use in support of “objectives of general interest”, such as to support healthcare, combat climate change, or improve public services.

They are also responsible for receiving notification of data-intermediation services providers – regulated businesses that will effectively act to facilitate data sharing between data holders, or data subjects, and data users under the DGA.

Pinsent Masons says that it understands that fresh legislation will designate the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as the competent authority for the purposes of the DGA.