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Proposals for a common rulebook to simplify business administration across the Single Market and boost EU competitiveness were presented by European Commissioner Michael McGrath, to the European College of Commissioners today. Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest professional body on the island of Ireland notes the significant opportunity the proposals represent for Irish businesses, by removing market fragmentation, allowing businesses to operate across the Single Market under one coherent – and more predictable- set of rules and facilitating much-needed investment in Irish businesses.  The EU Inc. proposal is a new EU-wide legal framework designed to make it easier to set up, scale up and invest across the Single Market. It will provide an alternative to the complex and differing regulations faced by businesses that want to expand across different Member States. Under EU Inc., each company will be automatically recognised in all Member States, a key step in removing internal barriers and maximising free movement within the EU.  Cróna Clohisey, Director of Members and Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland, said: “‘EU Inc.’ represents a significant opportunity for Irish businesses, vastly reducing the amount of EU-level compliance required. We therefore strongly support the once-only, digital-first approach in simplifying administration and cutting red tape, which will help reduce costs and ease the burden of regulatory compliance. With a market of 450 million people, the European Single Market is the world’s largest trading bloc and for Irish companies wishing to expand into other Member States, this regulation is an essential first step towards reducing burdensome administration costs and enabling easier access to the European market.    “We are pleased to see that our recommendation to remove tax and labour law from the proposal was taken on board as inclusion of them would have complicated and delayed this vital legislation. We will continue to raise issues to enhance competitiveness and reduce red tape, and, in that context, we have consistently called for the harmonisation of statutory audit requirements, as inconsistency across EU Member States in this respect would present a barrier to fulfilling the promise of the EU Inc proposal.   The Institute welcomed Commissioner McGrath’s intention to adopt these proposals as a regulation, which will ensure consistency across the EU and ensure the proposals work in harmony with Member States’ national company laws. Concluding Ms Clohisey said “The Commission has set an objective to finalise these proposals by the end of the year. We encourage the Government to be proactive during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Council to advance EU Inc. and ensure that SMEs across Europe can realise their potential.” The Institute notes that there is no public consultation planned and the proposals will move directly to discussions by the European Parliament and the Council with the objective to reach agreement on adoption by the end of the year. It is expected that EU Inc. will be operational by 2027. ENDS    

EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath has confirmed that the long awaited 28th Regime or ‘EU Inc’ proposals will be published next week. EU Inc. will be a new EU-wide legal framework designed to make it easier to set up, scale up and invest across the Single Market. It will provide an alternative to the complex and differing regulations faced by businesses that want to expand across different Member States. The ambition is that a company can be established using a fully digital platform within 48 hours, and it will be recognised throughout the European Union. There will be a common rulebook that will simplify business operations across the EU Single Market and boost competitiveness. With 450 million people, the Single Market is the world’s largest trading bloc. For Irish companies wishing to expand into other Member States, this legislation will reduce the burdensome administration costs and enable easier access to the European Market. Commissioner McGrath has set four distinct objectives from these proposals: The ability to register and establish a company cheaper, faster and digitally that is recognised in each Member State; EU Inc will provide for adaptable, flexible and future-ready governance tools; Companies will find it easier to attract and retain talent; Access to investment will be boosted. In September last year, Chartered Accountants Ireland responded to a call for evidence from the Commission on the 28th Regime. There will be a further public consultation on these proposals once they are announced and Chartered Accountants Ireland will engage in that process to ensure the final proposals adopted by the EU will fulfil the ambitions and objectives set out previously. The proposals are set to be launched next week, and the Institute will keep you informed of developments.

  This week’s Sustainability/ESG bulletin highlights Ireland’s gender pay and digital skills gaps and their impact on competitiveness, alongside new requirements for centralised pay gap reporting. Also included are updates on the Government’s actions on energy security, offshore wind, expanded zero‑emission HDV grants, and the introduction of the EU’s ESAP portal to support SME finance. The Green Economy reached €12.1bn output in 2023, with emissions intensity falling. Also covered are EU clean‑energy measures, greenwashing guidance, technical updates, key articles, and upcoming sustainability events. IRELAND SMEs and sustainable finance Tánaiste and Minister of Finance, Simon Harris, has signed into law the Statutory Instruments creating the Irish framework of the European Single Access Point (ESAP), an EU-wide data portal centralising free source of public information about EU companies and investment products. Read more. Gender pay gap consequences for Ireland’s competitiveness, innovation and resilience Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has urged employers to publish their gender pay gap reports, pointing to new research showing how a gender pay gap is evident in the early stages of young women’s careers. A gender skills gap has also been a priority area for certain sectors across Europe, with research published by the ESRI and European Parliament. Read more. Energy security and competitiveness developments The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) has convened a meeting of the Government's Energy Security Group to assess the current implications of the conflict in the Middle East and Gulf region; however, commentators argue that the crisis in the Middle East exposes over-reliance on fossil fuels, particularly LNG as a liability for Ireland, and call for investment in household energy security and clean energy alternatives. Read more. Government expands zero emission HDV grants for Irish logistics sector Irish businesses are set to benefit from expanded Government support to help cut costs and accelerate the move to zero-emission transport. Read more. Gross Output of Ireland’s ‘Green Economy’ €12.1 billion in 2023 The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023, up 10 percent on 2022, according to figures released by the CSO office. Meanwhile, a separate publication revealed that Ireland’s economy is becoming less emissions-intensive and is producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Read more. ISIF invests €140m in new climate action fund The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has announced it will commit up to €140m as a cornerstone investor in a major new climate action fund. Read more. NORTHERN IRELAND/UK Urgent call for action as rising oil and gas costs hit households and businesses Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has written to the British Government warning that the rapid rise in global oil and natural gas prices is now placing significant pressure on households and businesses across the north. It comes as consumers using heating oil saw prices rise over 80 percent in less than a week. The Minister’s call for action builds on her engagement last week with her Irish and British Government counterparts, business, consumer, and industry stakeholders, on the stark price rises in petrol, diesel and heating oil. The call was made only five days after a report was published detailing the percentage  of electricity consumption in the region generated from renewable sources. The report found that the volume of renewable electricity generated in the year to December 2025 was equivalent to 47 percent of gross final electricity consumption compared to 44 percent in the previous period, of which the majority (72 percent) was from wind. EUROPE Commission presents measures to increase EU's energy independence and affordability The European Commission has presented a package of initiatives designed to boost investment in homegrown clean energy solutions, increase resilience and reduce energy prices. Delivering on the Affordable Energy Action Plan which was adopted in February 2025 to strengthen Europe's competitiveness, reduce energy dependencies and increase affordability for households, the package comprises: a Clean Energy Investment Strategy to help bridge the gap between the private capital currently available and the investments needed, de-risking projects and mobilising private finance for grids, innovative clean energy technologies and energy efficiency. a Citizens Energy Package to reduce energy bills, empower citizens to produce and share their own clean energy and fight against energy poverty a Strategy for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to reduce import dependencies and ensure strategic autonomy by enabling EU Member States pursuing this technology accelerate their development and deployment. The Commission will present further measures in due course. Accountancy Europe on the EU sustainable reporting ecosystem and greenwashing Accountancy Europe has called for stability in the EU sustainability reporting ecosystem, as the European Commission drafts and ultimately adopts the Delegated Act on Revised ESRS. Calling for the EC to “keep the standard-setting process technical and avoid subjecting it to political pressures” Accountancy Europe advises the Commission to refrain from further diluting the standards or reopening technical elements, which it warns would undermine the due process the Draft Revised ESRS went through at EFRAG level. Separately, Accountancy Europe’s new publication Trust and integrity: the role of corporate ecosystem actors in preventing greenwashing demonstrates that mitigating greenwashing risks requires a systemic approach. The publication examines how different actors in the corporate ecosystem (across the three lines of defence) can identify and mitigate greenwashing risks, clarifying how each contributes to safeguarding the integrity of sustainability disclosures. “Sustainability information is key to capital allocation and stakeholder decision-making and demand for it will persist. With lighter regulation due to the latest changes under the ‘simplification agenda’, ensuring good governance and clarifying the roles of corporate ecosystem actors is more important than ever.” RESOURCES Technical Roundup (from our colleagues in Professional Accounting)  The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has published:  a Jurisdictional Readiness Assessment Guide for the adoption or other use of ISSB Standards a podcast  on the latest developments around the ISSB.  EFRAG has called for a balanced and cost effective approach to the proposed changes to Scope 2 Guidance in its response to the public consultation of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, while also raising some strong concerns regarding the complexity of some of the proposals. EFRAG has  also released an updated version of the VSME digital template, which includes language support in Irish.  ARTICLES Sustainability isn’t dead. It’s a commercial risk (Business Post) "A Quiet Momentum" - Trends of Sustainability in Business for 2026 (IBEC) More than half a million car journeys avoided every day in Dublin by walking and cycling (The Journal) Why it makes sense for women to work for women (Financial Times) Women represent 40pc of board member positions in Irish companies (Irish Independent) Pension gender gap would see women working 10 extra years (Irish Examiner) “A real opportunity to level-set pay gaps”: Employers face new EU salary transparency rules (The Currency) After years of pay gap reporting, what do we know? (Financial Times) New law to fast-track infrastructure will ‘benefit businesses’ (Business Post) EVENTS Dublin Chamber, SustainableSolutions Match 2026 In conjunction with the Enterprise Europe Network, Dublin Chamber is running free online events to exchange ideas, discover innovations, and connect with partners who share the same ambition: building a more sustainable and circular European economy. Whether you’re a company searching for practical sustainability solutions or an innovator ready to showcase your ideas, this event is where collaboration turns into action. 🌍 Opening Session 16 March | 💡 Online Pitching Sessions 16-24 March | 🤝 Online B2B Meetings 16-27 March   Enterprise Ireland, Sustainability Kickstarter Workshops A half‑day workshop series designed to support business leaders in recognising the strategic importance of sustainability and decarbonisation. The sessions provide practical skills to integrate core sustainability principles, identify competitive opportunities, and build actionable plans to meet rising customer expectations for sustainable products and services. Workshops | Dates & Times • Friday, 20 March 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 17 April 2026 | Half‑day workshop • Friday, 8 May 2026 | Half‑day workshop   Goodbody Clearstream From Strategy to Supplier Performance: Making EcoVadis Work for Your Organisation  Join this webinar to explore how EcoVadis is being used by organisations to strengthen their sustainability performance and meet growing expectations. We’ll begin with a clear introduction to the EcoVadis Scorecard and IQ Plus tools and hear directly from businesses that are using EcoVadis today. Through their experiences, you’ll gain valuable perspective on implementation timelines, internal engagement, challenges faced, and the business benefits achieved. Whether you’re new to EcoVadis or looking to better understand its role in supply chain and sustainability management, this session will provide practical insight into how the platform supports continuous improvement and risk management. Virtual | Thursday, 26 March |12:30pm – 1:15pm   SEAI, SEAI Energy Show 2026 The SEAI Energy Show is a business-to-business event where you can learn about the latest developments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. In person, RDS, Main Arena, Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 AK83, 22nd - 23rd March 2026 Sustainability Centre You can find information, guidance and supports to understand sustainability and meet the challenges it presents in our online Sustainability Centre.

  The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), part of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), has announced it will commit up to €140m as a cornerstone investor in a major new climate action fund. The fund has been set up by TirNua Capital Partners (TirNua), an independent, employee-managed private markets investment manager. ISIF has led the investment round in TirNua’s climate action infrastructure fund to accelerate its €2bn climate action investment programme and to continue to act as a catalyst for leveraging additional co-investment from other investors into Irish businesses and projects. Commenting David O’Brien, TirNua CEO described the fund as “a first-of-its-kind private markets platform focused on Ireland’s energy transition […] represent[ing] an exciting new way for investors to channel long-term capital into the projects that have the potential to positively shape Ireland’s future.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  The Gross Output of the Green Economy was €12.1 billion in 2023, up 10 percent on 2022, according to figures released by the CSO office in their Business in Ireland 2023 – Green Economy. The release, which provides insights on activities that can be classified by their environmental purpose and the business sectors in which they take place, found that the increase was mainly driven by the increased output of the Energy sector. Green Economy statistics are part of environment accounts which constitute a satellite account to national accounts. The release also revealed that the Green Economy represented €5 billion of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the country and supported 48,400 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, up 13 percent on 2022. The Industry sector generated €10.2 billion in Green Economy output, up €0.6 billion on 2022 and accounting for 84 percent of total Green Economy output. Within this, construction contributed €3.1 billion (31 percent) underlining its role in delivering environmentally focused infrastructure projects. A separate publication revealed that emissions from the enterprise economy have fallen 12 percent since 2018, notwithstanding strong economic growth. Business In Ireland 2025 - Emissions and Energy Use by Enterprises is the first in a series of releases that looks at data relating to the enterprise economy through the lens of sustainability and climate targets. In the publication, ‘enterprise economy’ refers to activity in the Industry (including Construction) and Services sectors in Ireland. The release revealed that Ireland’s economy is becoming less emissions-intensive and is producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Greenhouse gas emissions per euro of Modified Gross National Income (GNI) fell by 25 percent between 2018 and 2023.   Commenting on the release, Morgan O’Donnell, Statistician in the Sustainability, Circular Economy & Transport division said:  “Sustainability is of increasing importance to enterprises, in terms of meeting environmental regulations and expectations, but also from an economic and social perspective. There is increasing national and international recognition that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of success, and that long term prosperity depends on achieving a balanced integration of economic, environmental, and social outcomes. … This release looks at energy use by the enterprise economy, as it underpins productivity, competitiveness, and employment, while also contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.  By examining energy consumption alongside associated emissions, this release highlights the relationship between business activity and its environmental impact, addressing the dual national goals of sustaining economic activity while reducing emissions.” Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin

  Irish businesses are set to benefit from expanded Government support to help cut costs and accelerate the move to zero-emission transport. Changes to the Zero Emission Heavy Duty Vehicle (ZEHDV) grant scheme will make it easier and more flexible for companies to invest in electric trucks and buses, with grants of up to €500,000 per year now available. Speaking at an industry working group event, the Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rails and Ports, Sean Canney TD described decarbonising transport “a national priority but […] also a major commercial opportunity”. The updated scheme allows businesses to phase investment over time, rather than relying on a one-off funding opportunity, helping companies manage cash flow while modernising their fleets. Alongside the vehicle purchase support, businesses can also access grants of up to €300,000 under the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant Scheme (ZEHDV-I) to install depot charging infrastructure and support charging logistics hubs and urban locations. The Government is also supporting businesses at the planning stage through the EV Fleet Assessment Grant, which offers fully funded expert assessment to help companies understand how electric vehicles can operate within their existing fleets. Assessments cover routes, vehicle suitability, charging needs and total cost of ownership providing a clear roadmap to electrification. Separately, Minister of Transport Darragh O’Brien TD has announced the launch of a public consultation on the draft National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy 2026-2028, setting out the next phase of Ireland’s plan to expand and future proof the national EV charging network. Businesses, members of the public, local authorities, representative organisations and community groups are invited to make submissions as part of the consultation process, by 5pm on 24 April 2026. Back to the Sustainability/ESG Bulletin