Data Protection Commission hires two new heads to replace outgoing Helen Dixon

Helen Dixon is to leave the Data Protection to take up a role with communications regulator ComReg. Picture: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has announced the appointment of two new commissioners to replace the outgoing Helen Dixon.

The two new heads of the commission, Ireland’s independent privacy regulator, will be Dale Sunderland, currently a deputy commissioner with the DPC, and Dr Des Hogan, who worked formerly with the Chief State Solicitors Office, with those appointments brought to Cabinet on Tuesday.

Dr Hogan will act as chair of the commission going forward.

He has been assistant chief state solicitor since 2015. 

Prior to that role, he had served as chief executive of the Irish Human Rights Commission.

Before working with the DPC, Mr Sunderland was employed with the Department of Justice between 2002 and 2016.

Both Mr Sunderland and Dr Hogan will serve five-year terms commencing on February 20.

They will take over from Ms Dixon, whose 10-year term as commissioner had been due to end later this year, but who announced last November she would be leaving the DPC on February 19 to take up a role with ComReg, the communications regulator.

Ms Dixon had served as the sole Data Protection Commissioner for the entirety of her tenure. 

However, a well-flagged decision by the Government in 2022 saw a provision in the most recent Data Protection Act invoked to provide for the recruitment of up to three commissioners.

It is understood only two successful candidates were sourced during the recruitment drive for those positions, and that the State will shortly begin the process of hiring a third commissioner in due course.

While the DPC is an independent and autonomous regulator, the recruitment drive was sponsored by the Department of Justice, under whose aegis the DPC had formerly served.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the new commissioners would serve to “support an effective and well-resourced, highly-skilled regulator”.

She thanked Ms Dixon for the “dedication, strength and vision she has shown throughout her time as Data Protection Commissioner”.