Under the Law Enforcement Directive (LED), a competent authority may be a public or private body with powers to prevent, investigate, detect or prosecute (PDIP) criminal matters.

For example, An Garda Síochána are deemed to be a competent authority under LED as they are a public body involved in PDIP of criminal offences.

Other competent authorities include public transport operators (for example, Dublin Bus, Luas) when processing data relating to ticket fines/penalties and local authorities (for example, city and county councils) when processing data relating to parking or litter fines.