Ireland B2B Debt Collection: Tech Hub & Post-Brexit Guide

The limitation period for contract claims in Ireland is 6 years from the date of breach. Time starts running from when the debt became due. Early engagement preserves the widest range of options and maximizes interest claims under EU Late Payment Regulations.

Yes. Ireland remains an EU member state, so EU creditors can use the European Payment Order (EPO) for uncontested cross-border claims. The EPO provides a fast-track procedure without requiring full Irish court litigation. If the debtor contests, the case converts to ordinary proceedings. This is a significant advantage that UK creditors lost post-Brexit.

UK creditors can no longer use EU mechanisms (European Payment Order, European Small Claims) for Irish debts. However, Irish courts remain accessible to UK businesses through standard procedures. Ireland's common law system is familiar to UK practitioners, proceedings are in English, and the court system is efficient. The path to enforcement changed but remains workable—just more similar to collecting from a non-EU country now.

This is extremely common in Dublin's tech sector. Most Irish tech entities are EMEA subsidiaries of US companies. Key approaches: verify exactly who has payment authority and at what threshold; request specific timeline and contact at US parent if appropriate; document that your contract is with the Irish entity (which bears the payment obligation regardless of internal approval processes); and consider escalating to US headquarters if the Irish contact consistently cannot resolve.

Yes. The European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2012 implement the EU Late Payment Directive in Ireland. B2B creditors are entitled to interest at the ECB reference rate plus 8 percentage points, plus fixed compensation for recovery costs (€40-€100 depending on invoice amount). These rights apply automatically to commercial contracts.

Irish courts are reasonably efficient by international standards. Undefended claims can result in judgment within weeks. Defended claims typically take 6-12 months through District or Circuit Court, potentially longer for High Court matters or complex disputes. The Commercial Court handles larger commercial disputes with case management to expedite proceedings. Most successful Irish collections resolve through structured negotiation rather than full trial.

Key documentation for Irish commercial debt collection includes: signed contract or purchase order with payment terms, invoices, service acceptance or delivery confirmation, payment history/statement of account, and correspondence showing debt acknowledgment. For tech/SaaS: deployment confirmations, user acceptance, feature sign-offs. Ireland's common law courts are evidence-focused—complete documentation packages significantly strengthen positions.

Our Irish debt collection services cover major B2B sectors including: technology and SaaS, financial services and fintech, pharmaceutical and life sciences, professional services (legal, accounting, consulting), manufacturing and industrial, and creative/digital services. Each sector has specific documentation patterns and collection dynamics—particularly around US-parent structures in tech and pharma.

Dublin tech companies typically have: US parent structures with payment authority in California/Boston; high staff turnover requiring regular contact re-establishment; sophisticated legal teams that respond to formal procedures; budget cycles tied to US fiscal quarters; and reputation concerns that create leverage. Regional Irish businesses often have more direct decision-making authority but may have smaller margins and more cash flow sensitivity.

Recovery outcomes depend on multiple factors: documentation quality, debtor solvency, invoice age, dispute status, and corporate structure complexity. We don't quote blanket "success rates" because every Irish file has unique characteristics. What we can confirm: files with complete evidence packages, clear acceptance documentation, and early engagement (under 90 days overdue) consistently outperform files with documentation gaps, disputed scope, and extended aging. Our initial assessment identifies where your specific case falls on the recovery probability spectrum.