Ireland as a Base for European Business

• Introduction
• Irish Government's Attitude To Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
• Typical Trading Structures for Doing Business in Ireland
• Irish Tax Incentives Attracting Overseas Investment
• Banking & Finance in Ireland
• Ireland's Intellectual Property Framework (IP)
• Other Factors
• Conclusion

Typical Trading Structures for Doing Business in Ireland

The most common form of structure for doing business in Ireland is a company limited by share capital. Unlike some European countries Ireland, has a low minimum share capital requirement of € 1, making it easier to get a new business up and running.

Alternatively foreign entities may use a branch structure i.e. a trading branch of their overseas registered limited company.

Both of these carry obligatory filing requirements with our regulatory authorities, Company Registration Office and Revenue Commissioners. Whilst regulation may be seen as an 'obligatory necessity' it does add international credibility to the Irish business environment. The set-up of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (O.D.C. E.) in 2000 has further strengthened this credibility by improving compliance substantially in the last 10 years.

It is worth noting that EEA nationals living outside EEA area have a right to establish an EEA based business and we have been involved in setting up numerous Irish limited companies for Australian US, UK & New Zealand based EEA nationals. It is more expensive as a s43 bond insurance policy is required where there are no EEA resident directors of the company (previously had to have an Irish resident director).

Non -EEA nationals resident outside EEA require business permission to trade in the EEA. This application requires the involvement of a suitably qualified accountant in preparing a plan that meets certain minimum capital requirements and Visa applications in certain circumstances.