Key Environmental, Agricultural and Climate Policy Actions in Ireland

Ireland’s Budget 2026 strengthens national efforts in environmental protection, agricultural sustainability and climate action.

Key Developments in Ireland’s Healthcare System

Key Employment-Related Changes in Ireland

Ireland’s Budget 2026 introduces a range of measures aimed at strengthening the labour market, improving employment conditions, and supporting workforce development across key sectors of the economy. Below are the main updates under the Employment category.

A comprehensive overview of updated tax policy and its impact on businesses and individuals

Under Irish VAT legislation, the “Margin Scheme” aims to simplify and reduce the administrative burden and potential double taxation for dealers in second-hand goods, works of art, antiques, and collectibles. Instead of accounting for VAT on the full sales price of goods, the scheme allows VAT to be paid only on the difference (or margin) between the sales and purchase prices. This approach prevents dealers from facing VAT charges on the full value of items they resell, especially when VAT may have already been paid by a previous owner or in a prior transaction.

Categories Covered by the Margin Scheme:

Introduction

The Companies Act 2014 introduced a formal procedure for the voluntary strike-off of companies and clarified the steps for their restoration. There is now a simplified process for restoring companies regardless of the strike-off method.

Key Characteristics:

1. Unlimited Liability of Shareholders: In Unlimited Companies (UC), shareholders have unlimited liability for the company’s debts. This means that if the company faces financial difficulties or is liquidated, shareholders are obligated to cover all debts and liabilities, even using their personal assets. This is in contrast to limited liability structures (such as LTD or PLC), where shareholder risk is limited to the amount they have invested in shares.

Key Characteristics:

1. Shares Traded on the Stock Market: Public Limited Companies (PLCs) are companies whose shares can be freely bought and sold on stock markets. This allows the company to raise capital through public share offerings (IPOs) and attract both large and small investors. The company’s shares become available to the general public, and any investor can become a shareholder.