Written answers

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Corporate Governance

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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429. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his opinion on the views expressed in the Annual Report 2024 of the Corporate Enforcement Authority under the heading "Renewal of Secondee Complement"; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39722/25]

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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430. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to set out the powers of the chief executive officer of the Corporate Enforcement Authority, particularly with reference to criminal investigations. [39736/25]

Photo of Malcolm ByrneMalcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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431. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to appoint additional authority members to the Corporate Enforcement Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39737/25]

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 430 and 431 together.

The Corporate Enforcement Authority was established on the 7 July 2022. Under the Companies Act 2014, the CEA is independent in the performance of its functions.

The CEA’s functions under the Companies Act 2014 include:

  • promoting compliance with company law
  • investigating instances of suspected breaches of company law
  • taking appropriate enforcement action in response to identified breaches of company law
  • supervising the activities of liquidators of insolvent companies
  • operating a regime of restriction and disqualification undertakings in respect of directors of insolvent companies.
The Sole Member of the Authority has a number of governance obligations including acting as the CEA’s accounting officer, having responsibility for Compliance of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the preparation of the financial statements. Furthermore, in accordance with S944G(5) of the Companies Act 2014 (as amended), the Sole Member has responsibility for overall management and control of the affairs of the authority.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the CEA and An Garda Síochána is in place which sets out how the relationship between the two organisations is managed. The Memorandum of Understanding is available on the CEA website. In line with the MoU, I understand that the CEA and An Garda Síochána are working together in actively progressing the filling of current vacancies.

Neither I nor my officials have any role in the decisions around the assignment of Gardaí to the CEA.

Resourcing of the CEA is kept under constant review and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is involved in regular engagement with the CEA in relation to its requirements.

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