Northern Ireland Data Protection Update 2026

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Thursday, 04 June 2026

09:15 - 13:30 ( 4 hours 15 mins )

Online

Stay ahead of data protection challenges in Northern Ireland with expert-led insights tailored for HR professionals and employers. This annual update covers key developments, practical solutions, and real-world examples to help you mitigate risks and stay compliant.

Event details

About the event

Half Day Duration

4th June -

Online Zoom

£245.00 + VAT Early bird ends 23rd April 2026 at 5:00pm. Standard rate: £295.00 + VAT

In Partnership With

Overview

Your Essential Data Protection Update in Northern Ireland

Legal Island's annual Northern Ireland Data Protection Update is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the data protection issues that matter to HR professionals and employers in Northern Ireland.

We highlight the key risks facing employers, outline effective solutions, and share practical examples that you can implement straight away within your organisation.

What are the learning outcomes?

By the end of this course, attendees will:

Receive a clear, practical update on the latest data protection developments that directly impact employers in Northern Ireland
Have the opportunity to ask questions and gain expert guidance on real-world challenges their organisation may face
Access recorded sessions (with participant consent) to revisit key insights, reinforce learning, and ensure their organisation stays up to date

What will be covered?

DSARs: latest 2026 updates, exemptions and how to respond confidently
ICO update: priorities, guidance and enforcement trends
Staff behaviour and data risk: what really happens in practice
Cyber report insights: incident trends and litigation risks
AI and data protection: risks, opportunities and real use cases
Practical steps to stay compliant and reduce risk in your organisation

Who is this event for?

This event is aimed at employers and HR professionals with data protection responsibilities and concerns.

Why should you attend?

Legal Island's annual Northern Ireland Data Protection Update is tailored to give HR professionals and employers a practical, comprehensive overview of the data protection issues that matter most locally.

You’ll gain insight into the key risks affecting employers and discover actionable solutions, supported by real-world examples that you can implement in your organisation immediately.

Programme

A detailed look at the day's agenda

Here's what to expect at Northern Ireland's Data Protection Update 2026:

Time

Session

09:15 am

Welcome and Introduction

Christine Quinn, Knowledge Partner at Legal Island welcomes you to today's event.

Christine Quinn Knowledge Partner, Legal Island

09:30 am

DSARs Without Drama: Clear, Compliant Responses

Keeping DSARs off your mind, or at least under control, starts here.

Join Laura Gillespie and Anna Flanagan of Pinsent Masons to learn how to handle data subject access requests with confidence. Whether they’re routine or suddenly in the spotlight for litigation.

You’ll learn:

The February 2026 clarifications to DSARs found in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
How to reduce the volume or sensitivity of documents you need to disclose
When and how you can refuse a DSAR, including the key exemptions and how to apply them

Leave with practical tips for staying compliant while keeping legal risks in check.

Includes Q&A with Laura Gillespie and Anna Flanagan.

Laura Gillespie Partner, Pinsent Masons

10:10 am

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Update 2026

Join Simon Beattie, Senior Policy Officer at the Information Commissioner’s Office, for a concise, practical update on the ICO’s priorities, enforcement trends, and what you need to know for 2026, including:

ICO’s priorities for 2026/27
Updated guidance on DSARs
ICO consultation on ‘recognised legitimate interests guidance’
ICO tech futures: Agentic AI
ICO enforcement in the last year

Includes Q&A with Simon Beattie.

Simon Beattie Senior Policy Officer

10:55 am

Refreshment Break

Get a cup of something, take a break from the screen, catch up on emails, or whatever you need.

11:05 am

People, Not Passwords: How Staff Really Handle Data Protection

Think your organisation’s data is safe because staff know your cyber-security rules? Think again.

Join our expert, for a look at the surprising behaviours and attitudes that shape how people actually protect information.

You’ll take away:

Insight into everyday habits that put data at risk, even when policies are clear
How psychological factors like habit, overwhelm, and perception influence decisions on passwords, updates, and phishing
Practical strategies to encourage safer behaviours without adding more rules or technical complexity

A refreshing cyber-security session that will make you see human behaviour in data protection in a whole new way.

Includes a Q&A with the expert.

11:45 am

Lessons learned from Pinsent Masons’ Annual Cyber Report

Following the launch of the Pinsent Masons’ 7th Cyber Annual Report, this session will drill into the statistics of the incidents which Pinsent Masons has handled, and share the trends emerging, to give you practical tips to avoid the common pitfalls, along with delving into upcoming regulatory changes.

Laura Gillespie, Pinsent Masons will focus on:

Incident trends over the last 12 months
Market perspective on litigation risk
Overview of upcoming regulatory changes

Includes Q&A with Laura Gillespie.

Laura Gillespie Partner, Pinsent Masons

12:35 pm

AI and Data Protection

Anna Flanagan of Pinsent Masons outlines several key considerations relating to AI and data privacy:

The growing impact of AI on data - balancing risks and opportunities
Agentic AI - data protection considerations
AI in practice - case study on AI use in recruitment

Includes Q&A with Anna Flanagan.

Anna Flanagan Legal Director, Pinsent Masons

13:25 pm

Summary and Close

Testimonials

Feedback that speaks volumes...

Here's what our previous attendees had to say about NI Data Protection Update.

"It was very informative and up to date with all the information provided. All information was also relevant for my business that I can now deliver back to the wider team."

Bronagh Kearney Titanic Belfast

"Great speakers. Practical updates, not just theory."

Siobhan Weiniger Director of Finance, MindWise

"Pace, length and content of all sections of the webinar were excellent. Very knowledgeable speakers."

Caireen Toal HR Manager, Unicorn Group

"Helpful, informative and held my interest throughout! It was "pacey" and delivered in bite-sized chunks with a break in between which allowed my attention span to be re-set each time - I thought that was clever!"

Jonathan Young DPO, Ards & North Down Borough Council

"Excellent update on Data Protection, with knowledgeable presenters. Good pace, overall very good."

Gwyneth Evans HR Manager, Ryobi Aluminium Casting (UK) Ltd

"Wealth of information speakers had and case study examples."

Melissa Moffett HR Assistant, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd

Presenters

Explore the presenters on the day

Simon Beattie Senior Policy Officer