Guide to Irish Company Law

Carrying on business in Ireland

The methods generally preferred by foreign investors to carry on business in Ireland are as set out in Table 1. Other legal forms allowed in Ireland – sole trader, partnership, unlimited company, company limited by guarantee – are not covered in this guide, but advice can be provided on request.

 Characteristics of an Irish private company limited by shares 

Irish companies are governed by 15 statutes and a large number of statutory instruments which together constitute the Companies Acts. The primary Act remains the Companies Act 1963 which is similar in many respects to the English Companies Act 1948. 

Following the recommendations of the Irish Company Law Review Group chaired by Arthur Cox’s Dr Tom Courtney, Irish company law is due to be transformed by a consolidating and reforming statute that will repeal over 25 enactments and replace them with one unified body of law which will have a particular focus on the private company limited by shares. It is not expected that this will become law before 2013.

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