country: Ireland
framework: GDPR
region: EU
language: en
version: 2024-06
status: published
last_updated: 2025-06-30
source_verified: true
authority: Data Protection Commission (DPC Ireland)
notes:
- Ireland enforces GDPR directly through the Data Protection Act 2018, with additional
  national clarifications provided by the DPC.
- Ireland is home to the European headquarters of several multinational tech companies,
  making its regulatory interpretation highly influential.
categories:
- name: Full Name
  type: direct_identifier
  subtype: personal_name
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - pii
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 4(1)
    description: Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural
      person
  category_tags:
  - core
  - identity
- name: Email Address
  type: direct_identifier
  subtype: digital_contact
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - pii
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 4(1)
  category_tags:
  - core
  - contact
- name: IP Address
  type: indirect_identifier
  subtype: network_identifier
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - tracking
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    recital: '30'
  - authority: DPC
    guideline: Cookies & tracking
    url: https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/guidance-landing/cookies
  category_tags:
  - digital
  - behavioral
- name: Phone Number
  type: direct_identifier
  subtype: telecom_contact
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - pii
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 4(1)
  category_tags:
  - core
  - contact
- name: Health Data
  type: special_category
  subtype: health
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - phi
  - sensitive
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 9(1)
  - authority: DPC
    guideline: Health data and special category processing
    url: https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/dpc-guidance/healthcare
  category_tags:
  - health
  - sensitive
- name: Biometric Data (e.g., fingerprints, facial recognition)
  type: special_category
  subtype: biometric
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - biometric
  - sensitive
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 9(1)
  category_tags:
  - biometric
  - sensitive
- name: PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number)
  type: national_identifier
  subtype: government_id
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - pii
  - national_id
  - government_id
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: '87'
  - regulation: Data Protection Act 2018
    section: '46'
    description: Restricts processing of PPS numbers to lawful use only
  category_tags:
  - core
  - identity
- name: Location Data (real-time GPS, workplace tracking)
  type: behavioral
  subtype: geolocation
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - tracking
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: 4(1)
    description: May contribute to identifiability
  category_tags:
  - tracking
  - behavioral
- name: Cookie Identifiers / Device Fingerprint
  type: indirect_identifier
  subtype: device_id
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - tracking
  - online_identifier
  - pii
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    recital: '30'
  - authority: DPC
    guideline: Cookies and similar technologies
    url: https://www.dataprotection.ie/en/guidance-landing/cookies
  category_tags:
  - digital
  - tracking
- name: Employment Records (contracts, reviews, schedules)
  type: contextual_identifier
  subtype: hr_data
  required_masking: true
  tags:
  - pii
  - hr_data
  - employment_contracts
  citations:
  - regulation: GDPR
    article: '88'
  - regulation: Data Protection Act 2018
    section: '36'
    description: Governs processing of employee data
  category_tags:
  - employment
  - sensitive