Ireland: Inward/ Foreign Investment

Transaction values exceed €33.2bn in H1 2026 despite lower deal volumes, as large-scale deals and international investment underpin market resilience.

The European Union has introduced its most comprehensive overhaul of foreign direct investment screening since 2020, establishing harmonised minimum standards across all Member States for reviewing investments in strategically sensitive sectors. This revised framework significantly expands the scope of transactions subject to review, introduces stricter procedural requirements, and enhances coordination mechanisms between national authorities and the European Commission.

A leading Irish law firm's Competition and Regulated Markets Group provides comprehensive merger control advisory services, handling complex cases before the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and European Commission. The team also navigates Ireland's foreign direct investment screening regime, assisting international investors and Irish businesses with national security and public order considerations in cross-border transactions.

On 6 January 2025, Ireland’s new foreign direct investment screening regime commenced, which enabled the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (“Department”) to review, for the first time, transactions involving foreign investment that may impact on security or public order in Ireland, through mandatory notification requirements or a ‘call-in’ power.

The aim of the Bill is to enable Ireland to ratify agreements with investment protection agreements, whilst still within the parameters of Irish constitution and EU law.

The Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 was commenced with effect from 6 January 2025 and gives the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment wide-ranging powers...

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is consulting until 3 February 2025 on a review of Technical Guidance Document...

The Commission issued the first in a series of guidance documents to support EU countries in transposing and implementing the revised Directive into national law.

The OGP published amended forms of the Standard Conditions of Engagement for Technical Services and Archaeological Consultancy Services (COE1 & COE2 respectively).