The guide, which was developed by McCann FitzGerald’s data protection team, provides an overview of data protection law and its application to the charity / not-for-profit sector.

Pro Bono Week is an annual event that celebrates the role played by volunteer lawyers across Ireland in supporting access to justice for those in need.

The McCann FitzGerald data protection guide provides a practical resource for those working in the charity and not-for-profit sector in Ireland to navigate data protection law. The guide is divided into two parts, focusing on both the data protection rights from the perspective of individuals and outlining the data protection obligations for organisations.

It covers themes of particular relevance to the charity and not-for profit sector including direct marketing, special categories of personal data, and outlines case study examples of data protection breaches that have been considered by the Data Protection Commission (DPC).

Speaking at the launch event, Mary Brassil, partner and head of pro bono at McCann FitzGerald, said: “The not-for-profit sector, by the nature of its work, often holds or processes personal data from for example donors, or personal information for service users. The aim of this guide is to provide a practical tool to support their understanding of and compliance with data protection obligations. Our Data Protection team was delighted to create this guide in partnership with PILA. This collaboration with PILA allows us to use our legal skills and expertise to deliver a vital resource for PILA members.”