The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has opened a Cross-Border statutory inquiry into Google Ireland Limited (Google) under Section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018). The Irish DPC wants to examine if Google has complied with any obligation to undertake an assessment under Article 35(2) of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (EU GDPR) before it engaged in the processing of the personal data of EU/EEA data subjects related to the development of its foundational AI model, Pathways Language Model 2 (PaLM 2).

MLex: The Irish Data Protection Commission has welcomed an opinion by an umbrella group of EU data protection authorities on AI providers' use of personal data to train AI models. The opinion will support the authority's ‘engagement with companies developing new AI models before they launch on the EU market, as well as the handling of the many AI-related complaints that have been submitted’, DPC Commissioner Dale Sunderland said in a statement.

MLex: The Irish privacy regulator's work is very broad beyond enforcement activities related to Big Tech companies, a senior official said today.

MLex: Since mid-November, Appeals Centre Europe has received over 1,500 disputes and, since late January, has issued more than 150 decisions—most of which recommend overturning the platforms’ original rulings, according to its press release published today. The highest number of disputes came from Italy, followed by France, Germany, and Spain. The Dublin-based independent body handles out-of-court resolutions for content disputes on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube under the EU's Digital Services Act.

MLex: A probe into Google in Ireland over its advertising data practices can’t be compared to an investigation into an Irish data broker that has allegedly sold precise location data from users’ smartphones, an official at the authority said Tuesday. Google’s Real Time Bidding system ‘does not disclose precise location data to third parties’, the official said. The Google RTB system offers location data on a city-wide level, MLex understands.

Google is being investigated properly by the Irish data protection authority, the country’s Court of Appeal has ruled on 24 June 2024 in dismissing a case brought by a campaigner against the regulator. The court dismissed a claim by Johnny Ryan, of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, who argued that the Data Protection Commission (DPC)—Google’s lead data regulator in the EU— should have probed Google under the General Data Protection Regulation’s (EU GDPR) security rules in relation to a complaint he made about its advertising practices.

MLex: Enforcement against Google over its use of location data may need to go through the General Data Protection Regulation's (EU GDPR) dispute resolution procedure, after watchdogs raised objections to the original decision proposed by the Irish data regulator. Helen Dixon, the head of the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), told MLex today that the objections relate to 'peripheral' elements of the enforcement and that her office is trying to resolve the issues.

The European Court of Human Rights has announced that the Irish Government has brought an inter-State application against the UK under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The Irish Government has argued that certain provisions of the Act are not compatible with the ECHR. The application has been registered under no 1859/24.

The Irish Government has published the General Scheme of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to amend the Arbitration Act 2010 to give legal effect in Ireland to international investment protection agreements. The Bill proposes inserting a new section 25A, enabling the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to prescribe such agreements. Awards issued under these agreements would be enforceable under the New York or Washington Conventions and granted the same legal standing as domestic High Court judgments, subject to approval by the Court.

The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU has briefed European Parliament committees across 16 policy areas between 13 and 16 July 2026. Recurring themes included EU competitiveness, regulatory simplification, the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and support for Ukraine. On justice and home affairs, Minister Thomas Byrne highlighted EU enlargement, the Article 7 procedure on Hungary and protecting children online. On public health, Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill identified mental health and women's health as key priorities, with major files including the Biotech Act and the Clinical Trials Regulation. On foreign affairs, Minister Helen McEntee asserted support for Ukraine, a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine and maintaining enlargement momentum. On security and defence, Ireland committed to a full role in EU defence, focusing on the AGILE regulation, military mobility and maritime security. On economic affairs, Tánaiste Simon Harris stated the presidency's primary goal is reaching political agreement on the savings and investments union, with Member States aiming to adopt a position by October 2026. The presidency also committed to advancing the EU gender equality strategy 2026–30, the care economy and preparations for COP31 in November 2026.

The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU has published its programme for 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2026, outlining its priorities and direction. The presidency aims to deliver on European competitiveness, values and security; guided by the principle of ‘strength with unity’.

Ireland—Banking & Financial services analysis: This article was written by Paul Fahy, partner and head of tax and Cian Ryan, associate, of A&L Goodbody LLP and discusses the 2024 Annual Report of the Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue), and some of the key insights arising from this report.