The Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon, whose term is due to end next year, has confirmed that she will step down from the role on 19 February.

She is to take up a new role as Commissioner to the Commission for Communications Regulation.

In a post on LinkedIn, she described it as “a privilege and an honour” to have served in the role of commissioner since her appointment in 2014.

‘Transformed’

Dixon (pictured) added that, in that time, the Data Protection Commission (DPC) had been transformed from a small, regionally-based office of 27 staff into an independent regulatory body with more than 215 “committed experts, headquartered in Dublin, and internationally recognised for the quality of its staff and work”.

“I believe Ireland has much to be proud of in terms of its data-protection regime – including the consistent support by Government since my appointment in 2014, with budgetary increases to facilitate necessary capacity and capability improvements at the DPC,” Dixon stated.

The watchdog has imposed some large fines on technology companies based in Ireland, such as Meta and TikTok, but the European Data Protection Board has had to step in on several occasions to resolve disputes between the DPC and other European regulators over fines and sanctions.

‘Pioneering role’

The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee praised Dixon’s “dedication, strength and vision” in the DPC role.

“The DPC has played a pioneering role in enforcing the GDPR across Europe as the lead supervisory authority for a large number of technology and internet- platform companies with EU headquarters in Ireland,” the minister said.

“I am delighted that our public service will continue to benefit from her experience, expertise and leadership,” she added.