This week in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Malcolm Byrne TD and Deputy Albert Dolan TD introduced the Companies (Protection of Title: Accountant) Bill 2025. Deputy Byrne moved “That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to regulate the use of the title "accountant", to establish criteria for recognition, and to provide for offences and penalties for misuse of the title, and to provide for related matters.” The Bill was not opposed and was passed to Second Stage. We were pleased to meet Deputy Byrne and Deputy Dolan this week to discuss their Bill.
Recognition of the term ‘accountant’ has been an issue the Institute has engaged on for many years under the auspices of the CCAB-I. Our primary focus is consumer protection and ensuring that individuals are not given poor advice by unqualified operators presenting themselves as Chartered Accountants.
In 2006/07 recognition of the term ‘accountant’ was the subject of a formal consultation by IAASA and was also considered by the Company Law Review Group. The Institute used its submission on the Companies Bill 2012 to again highlight this issue. We have also taken the opportunity since then to engage with senior officials and relevant TDs.
Any proposal to define the use of the term ‘accountant’ must be carefully defined in legislation, balancing the complexity of legislating across a wide range of accountancy services and the potential administrative and financial impact on businesses, particularly SMEs. We will monitor the Bill’s progress and update members further.
LOADING...