Jurisdiction(s):
Ireland

Ireland: Consumer representative actions under RAPCICA 2023: QE designation, opt-in procedure, remedies, funding restrictions, cross-border scope, UK/US comparisons, and the ICCL v Microsoft test case

Published by a Lexis+ Ireland - Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

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Scope of this Practice Note

This Practice Note sets out a high-level overview of representative actions in Ireland under the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Act 2023 (Ireland) (RAPCICA 2023 (IRL)), which implements Directive (EU) 2020/1828 (the EU Representative Actions Directive) into Irish law. It summarises the function of Qualified Entities (QEs), the remedies available, procedural steps, and central constraints—such as the ban on third-party litigation funding and the opt-in character of claims. A comparison with other jurisdictions is also included.

Evolution of collective redress in Ireland

Collective, or class, actions allow groups of individuals to pursue claims together, enhancing procedural efficiency and sharing the burden of litigation. While countries such as the United States have long operated comprehensive class action regimes, Ireland has traditionally lacked a comparable framework. RAPCICA 2023 (IRL) introduces a new civil litigation route in Ireland. Under this model, designated QEs may initiate representative proceedings on behalf of consumers whose rights have been violated by traders’ unlawful practices. Before RAPCICA 2023 (IRL), Irish claimants depended on other avenues to address collective harms, including:

representative actions under Order 15, Rule 9 of...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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