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European Accessibility Act: Ireland (S.I. No. 636 of 2023)
IE- Applies from
- 2025-06-28
- Maximum penalty
- €60,000
- Enforcement authority
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC): market surveillance authority for products and compliance authority for e-books and e-commerce; Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) for electronic communications; Coimisiún na Meán for access to audiovisual media services; Central Bank of Ireland for consumer banking; National Transport Authority for bus, rail and waterborne transport; Irish Aviation Authority for air transport. The National Disability Authority advises but does not enforce — https://www.ccpc.ie
- Microenterprise exemption
- Yes — under the EAA's EU-wide microenterprise exemption for services
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- National law
- S.I. No. 636 of 2023 — European Union (Accessibility Requirements of Products and Services) Regulations 2023
- File a complaint
- https://www.ccpc.ie/business/enforcement/accessibility/european-accessibly-act-obligations-for-businesses/
- Notes
- Offences carry, on summary conviction, a class A fine (up to €5,000) and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on conviction on indictment, a fine of up to €60,000 and/or up to 18 months' imprisonment. In imposing a penalty the court must have regard to the extent and seriousness of the non-compliance, among other factors. The primary enforcement tool is a direction to remedy non-compliance, enforceable through the Circuit Court.
Who is obligated in Ireland
Ireland applies the same EU-wide scope as the rest of the bloc, but the CCPC spells out each role's paperwork in more detail than most regulators: manufacturers must keep technical documentation for five years, affix CE marks, and immediately correct non-compliant products; importers must verify the manufacturer's compliance, retain EU declarations of conformity, and keep a register of any non-compliant products they encounter; distributors must check CE marks and documentation before selling and refuse to distribute anything non-compliant; and service providers must publish accessible documentation explaining how their service meets the requirements, in both written and spoken formats. All four categories must cooperate with the CCPC as market surveillance authority on request.
What happens if you don't comply
Ireland backs its accessibility regulations with criminal offences rather than fines imposed by the regulator: a summary conviction carries a fine of up to €5,000 and/or six months' imprisonment, and conviction on indictment for more serious breaches up to €60,000 and/or eighteen months. In practice the first tool is a direction to remedy non-compliance, enforceable through the Circuit Court if ignored — prosecution is the backstop, not the first step.
How this differs from the EU baseline
Ireland spreads enforcement across six bodies by sector: the CCPC for products, e-commerce and e-books, ComReg for electronic communications, Coimisiún na Meán for audiovisual access services, the Central Bank for consumer banking, and the National Transport Authority and Irish Aviation Authority for transport. The National Disability Authority advises but has no enforcement power. Penalties run through criminal prosecution, with fines and possible imprisonment, as in Cyprus and Luxembourg, rather than through fines imposed directly by a regulator, which is the model most member states use.
How to complain
The CCPC has not published a dedicated online complaint form specific to accessibility law at the time of writing. Reports can be made through the CCPC's general contact channels — its main line (+353 1 402 5500) or consumer helpline (01 402 5555) — or via its published business-obligations page, which explains what businesses must do and directs enforcement-related queries to the Commission.
Frequently asked questions about the EAA in Ireland
- What is the maximum EAA fine in Ireland?
- The maximum penalty is €60,000. Offences carry, on summary conviction, a class A fine (up to €5,000) and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on conviction on indictment, a fine of up to €60,000 and/or up to 18 months' imprisonment.
- Who enforces the European Accessibility Act in Ireland?
- Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC): market surveillance authority for products and compliance authority for e-books and e-commerce; Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) for electronic communications; Coimisiún na Meán for access to audiovisual media services; Central Bank of Ireland for consumer banking; National Transport Authority for bus, rail and waterborne transport; Irish Aviation Authority for air transport. The National Disability Authority advises but does not enforce. Details are published at https://www.ccpc.ie.
- Since when does the EAA apply in Ireland?
- The requirements apply from 28 June 2025, the EU-wide date, transposed into Ireland by Ireland's national implementing law.
- Are small businesses exempt from the EAA in Ireland?
- Only microenterprises — fewer than 10 staff and annual turnover or balance sheet total of €2 million or less — and only for services. A microenterprise in Ireland that places a covered product on the market still has to make that product accessible.
- How do I report an inaccessible website in Ireland?
- Complaints go to the national complaint route at https://www.ccpc.ie/business/enforcement/accessibility/european-accessibly-act-obligations-for-businesses/. The enforcement authority above handles market surveillance separately.
Official source: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2023/si/636/made/en/print
Verified on 2026-09-29. This page is not legal advice — verify against the official source above before making compliance decisions.