EAA compliance in Ireland
EAA compliance requirements for Ireland
National legislation
National law
European Union (Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services) Regulations 2025
Reference
S.I. No. XX of 2025 (transposing Directive 2019/882)
Enforcement authority
NDA (National Disability Authority) for monitoring, and ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation) for telecommunications sector enforcement. CCPC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) for general consumer product and service enforcement.
Contact: nda.ie / comreg.ie / ccpc.ie
Penalties
Ireland's transposition includes criminal sanctions - offences can result in fines of up to €60,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 18 months on summary conviction. On indictment, penalties can be significantly higher. This makes Ireland one of the strictest enforcement regimes in the EU.
Sectors in scope
E-commerce, banking, telecommunications, transport, audiovisual media, e-books, consumer electronics, self-service terminals. Ireland is home to the European headquarters of many global technology companies, making EAA compliance particularly significant.
Key deadlines
Enforceable from 28 June 2025. Ireland has had public sector accessibility requirements under S.I. No. 358/2020 (Web Accessibility Directive transposition) since 2020.
Ireland-specific requirements
Ireland's inclusion of criminal sanctions (including potential imprisonment) for EAA non-compliance is notable - most EU member states rely on administrative fines only. Ireland is also home to the European or international headquarters of many major technology companies (Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Stripe), meaning Irish EAA enforcement could have outsized impact on global tech companies' accessibility practices. The NDA has been monitoring public sector web accessibility since 2020 and has established methodology for compliance assessment.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you go to prison for EAA non-compliance in Ireland?
Yes. Ireland's transposition includes criminal sanctions that can include imprisonment of up to 18 months on summary conviction. This makes Ireland one of the strictest EAA enforcement regimes in the EU. In practice, criminal prosecution is likely reserved for serious, wilful, or persistent non-compliance.
Who enforces the EAA in Ireland?
Multiple bodies are involved: the NDA monitors accessibility compliance, ComReg enforces in the telecommunications sector, and the CCPC handles general consumer product and service enforcement. The specific enforcement body depends on the sector and nature of the product or service.
Does the EAA apply to US tech companies headquartered in Ireland?
Yes. If a company places products or services on the EU market from Ireland, the EAA applies regardless of the company's ultimate parent jurisdiction. Given that many global tech companies have their European headquarters in Ireland, Irish enforcement of the EAA could have significant international impact.
Related resources
Last reviewed: April 2026. Regulatory details are reviewed quarterly for accuracy.