‘Units’ in this database are national-level organisations which perform public functions under public authority. These include government departments, agencies, and commercial state-owned enterprises. For further details on the types of organisations included in the database, see the what we have done and why document.
Units can be searched by name, legal form, function, policy area, or date. On each unit’s page, information is available including dates of activity, alternate names, relevant legislation, related units, related events. and also data on characteristics such as legal form, policy area, function, accountability mechanisms, location, and parent bodies. For further details on the data recorded about each unit, see the Codebook
63 results
Name
| From
| To
| Description
| Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Stock Exchange Ltd. | 1995-05-30 | Roots stretch back to 1793 when the Exchange first opened for trading in Dublin. Before was known as the "Irish Unit of the International Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Limited "; became known as the "Irish Stock Exchange Limited" on the basis of the Stock Exchange Act, 1995 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.ise.ie; Stock Exchange Act, 1995 | |
| General Register Office | 1845-04-01 | n/a | McGauran et al. 2005; www.groireland.ie; Marriages (Ireland) Act 1844; Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1863 | |
| National Library of Ireland | 1877-01-01 | Was established as an autonomous cultural institution in May 2005 under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997. The Library on Kildare Street in Dublin was opened to the public on 29 August 1890. The Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act 1927 gave the NLI legal deposit status for the first time. In 1986-1992 was under the aegis of the Dept. of An Taoiseach. In 1992 (until present) was transferred to the Dept. of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (now under Arts, Sports and Tourism) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nli.ie/en/homepage.aspx; National Cultural Institutions Act 1997; Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act 1927; Dublin Science and Art Museum Act 1877; Irish Times, 28 August 1890 | |
| Central Statistics Office | 1949-06-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cso.ie/; Statistics Act 1993 | ||
| Office of the Ombudsman | 1983-07-07 | Legislation created the office in 1980; the first Ombudsman took up office in 1984 following passing of I.R. Uimh. 424/1983 — An tOrdú um an Acht Ombudsman, 1980 (An Lá Ceaptha), 1983. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://ombudsman.gov.ie/en/; The Ombudsman Act 1980; I.R. Uimh. 424/1983 — An tOrdú um an Acht Ombudsman, 1980 (An Lá Ceaptha), 1983. | |
| Irish National Accreditation Board | 1995-02-01 | Orginally an autonomous division of Forfás, became a Committee of the Health and Safety Authority under the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.inab.ie/; Industrial Development Act, 1993; Report of the Laboratory of the Dublin Region Public Analyst for the years 1995 and 1996, Eastern Health Board; Dáil Éireann - Volume 465 - 09 May, 1996 Private Members' Business. - National Standards Authority of Ireland Bill, 1996: Second Stage (Resumed); S.I. No. 294/1999; Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014 | |
| National Statistics Board | 1986-02-01 | Was initially set up on a non-statutory basis in 1986; and was established on a statutory basis in 1994 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nsb.ie/; The Statistics Act 1993 | |
| National Archives | 1988-06-01 | Took over the functions previously performed by the State Paper Office (1702) and the Public Record Office of Ireland (1867) | http://www.nationalarchives.ie/; The National Archives Act 1986 | |
| Office of the Data Protection Commissioners | 1989-01-09 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dataprotection.ie/; Data Protection Act 1988 and Data Protection Amendment Act 2003 | ||
| National Economic and Social Development Office | 2007-01-01 | In 2006 the following non-statutory bodies were dissolved and ncorporated into NESDO: National Economic and Social Council (NESC), the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF), and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP) | http://www.nesdo.ie/; National Economic and Social Development Act 2006 | |
| Criminal Assets Bureau | 1996-10-15 | http://www.garda.ie/cab.html; Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996 | ||
| Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner | 2000-01-20 | 2016-12-31 | Replaced by the International Protection Office | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.orac.ie/; Refugee Act 1996; S.I. No. 8/2000; www.ipo.gov.ie; International Protection Act 2015; S.I. No. 661/2016 - International Protection Act 2015 (Establishment Day) Order 2016 |
| Office of the Appeal Commissioners | 1968-03-26 | 2016-03-21 | Replaced Special Commissioners, replaced by the Tax Appeals Commission. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.appealcommissioners.ie/; Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968; Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997; Finance (Tax Appeals) Act 2015; S.I. No. 111/2016 |
| Office of the Information Commissioner | 1997-04-21 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/; Freedom of Information Act 1997 and FOI (Amendment) Act 2003 | ||
| Irish Takeover Panel | 1997-04-29 | http://www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie/; Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997 | ||
| National Competitiveness Council | 1997-05-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.competitiveness.ie/ | ||
| Local Government Management Services Board | 1997-01-01 | 2012-08-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.lgmsb.ie/; S.I. No.410/1996; S.I. No. 289/2012; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012; S.I. No. 287/2012 | |
| ERDF and Cohesion Fund Financial Control Unit | 1998-01-01 | 2006-06-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ndp.ie/; ERDF and Cohesion Fund Financial Control Unit Annual Reports 1999-2006; Dáil debates, Wednesday, 29 January 2014 - Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) | |
| Referendum Commission | 1998-03-02 | 2023-02-09 | Under the Referendum Act 2001 lost its function to put the arguments for and against referendum proposals. Main function at the moment: to explain the subject matter of referendum proposals, to promote public awareness and to encourage the electorate to vote at the poll. Replaced by the Electoral Commission | McGauran et al. 2005; Referendum Act 1998; Referendum (Amendment) Act 2001; http://www.refcom.ie/; Electoral Reform Act 2022 (No. 30 of 2022); S.I. No. 32/2023 |
| North/South Ministerial Council | 1999-03-08 | McGauran et al. 2005; British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/ | ||
| Local Government Computer Services Board | 1975-09-17 | 2012-08-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.lgcsb.ie/; Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971; S.I. No.212 of 1975; the LGCSB Establishment Order (Amendment) 2004; Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012; S.I. No. 287/2012; S.I. No. 288/2012 | |
| Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) | 1999-12-02 | http://www.seupb.org/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; the North-South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Northern Ireland Order 1999 | ||
| National Forum on Europe | 2001-10-18 | 2009-04-01 | www.forumoneurope.ie/ | |
| National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission | 2001-04-02 | 2014-12-22 | Following the commencement of the relevant provisions of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014, the NPRF‘s investment mandate ended on 22 December 2014 with the establishment of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), to which NPRC's assets were transferred. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nprf.ie/; National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000; National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; S.I. No. 586/2014 |
| Standards in Public Office Commission | 2001-12-10 | Replaced the Public Offices Commission, which was established in 1995 on the basis of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 | McGauran et al. 2005; Standards in Public Office Act 2001; http://www.sipo.gov.ie/ | |
| Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland | 2003-05-01 | 2010-10-01 | Created through restructuring of the Central Bank. Merged with Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority to create the Central Bank of Ireland in 2010 | McGauran et al. 2005; Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003; www.centralbank.ie; Central Bank Reform Act 2010; S.I. No. 469/2010 |
| Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority | 2005-12-13 | http://www.iaasa.ie/; Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003; S.I. No 791 of 2005 | ||
| Commission for Public Service Appointments | 2004-10-19 | 2012-10-31 | Prior to 2004: similar functions were fulfilled by the Civil Service Commissioners (1956-2004) and Local Appointments Commissioners (1926-2004). In 2004 these bodies were dissolved and substituted by the Commission for Public Service Appointments | Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004; http://www.cpsa.ie/; Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 |
| Irish Financial Services Appeals Tribunal | 2004-01-01 | http://www.ifsat.ie/; Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Acts 2003; S.I. No. 224/2008 | ||
| Public Record Office of Ireland | 1867-01-01 | 1988-06-01 | Death by merge into National Archives | Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867; http://www.nationalarchives.ie/aboutus/history.html; The National Archives Act 1986 |
| State Paper Office | 1702-01-01 | 1988-06-01 | Merge into National Archives | IPA Yearbooks; http://www.nationalarchives.ie/about-us/history/; The National Archives Act 1986 |
| Public Appointments Service | 2004-10-19 | Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004; http://www.publicjobs.ie/ | ||
| Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau | 2005-04-01 | 2018-01-01 | In January 2018 Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau and Office of the Pensions Ombudsman merged to form the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) | Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004; http://www.financialombudsman.ie/; www.fspo.ie; Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017; S.I. No. 524/2017 |
| Dormant Accounts Board | 2006-01-04 | 2012-12-31 | Composed after the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board was dissolved--government was given discretion over accounts | Dormant Account Acts 2001 and 2005; Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012 |
| Education Finance Board | 2006-02-17 | 2013-03-29 | The Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005; Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012; S.I. No. 96/2013; Written Answers, Wednesday, 22 January 2014, No. 80 - Departmental Bodies Establishment | |
| National Property Services Regulatory Authority | 2006-12-01 | http://www.npsra.ie/; 'Debate on property regulation bill to start in Seanad next week' Irish Times, 14 May 2009; Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011 | ||
| Citizens Information Board | 2007-02-21 | Formerly known as the National Social Services Board (1984-2000) and Comhairle (2000-2007) | Citizens Information Act 2007; http://www.citizensinformationboard.ie/ | |
| National Consumer Agency | 2007-05-01 | 2014-10-31 | Prior to 2007 was known as the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs (est. in 1978), merged with Competition Authority in 2014 to create the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission | http://www.consumerconnect.ie/; Consumer Protection Act 2007; Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 |
| Department of Supplies | 1939-09-08 | 1945-08-01 | Functions transferred to Minister of Industry and Commerce | Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1939; Minister for Supplies (Transfer of Functions) Act, 1945; S.I. No. 171/1945 |
| Department of the Public Service | 1973-11-01 | 1987-03-19 | Functions transferred to Department of Finance | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1973; S.I. No. 83/1987 |
| Department of the Taoiseach | 1937-07-01 | http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/; Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937 | ||
| Public Offices Commission | 1995-11-01 | 2001-12-10 | Replaced by Standards in Public Office Commission | Ethics in Public Office Act 1995; Standards in Public Office Act, 2001 |
| Anglo Irish Bank | 2009-01-21 | 2011-10-14 | Nationalized in 2009, and on 14 October 2011, the name of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited was changed to Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited, trading as IBRC. | Anglo-Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009; http://www.angloirishbank.ie/; Laeven & Valencia, 'Systemic Banking Crises Database: An Update', IMF Working Paper WP/12/163, p. 29. |
| Companies Registration Office | 1908-01-01 | Also Registrar of Friendly Societies (plan to formally merge) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cro.ie/; Companies Acts, 1908 To 1917; Companies (Re-Constitution of Records) Act, 1924; Registration of Business Names Act, 1963 | |
| Civil Service Commissioners (I) | 1924-01-01 | 1957-02-18 | Replaced by the Civil Service Commissioners (II) (1956-2004) | Civil Service Regulation Act, 1924; Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956; S.I. No. 17/1957 |
| Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs | 1978-01-01 | 2007-05-01 | Replaced by National Consumer Agency | Consumer Information Act, 1978; Consumer Protection Act 2007 |
| Local Supplies Advisory Committee | 1925-01-01 | 1994-01-01 | Local Authorities Combined Purchasing Acts 1925 & 1939; Dáil Éireann - Volume 324 - 27 November, 1980--Written Answers. - Advisory Bodies; S.I. No. 171/1994 | |
| Geological Survey of Ireland | 1845-01-01 | Geological Survey Act 1845; Ministers and Secretaries 1924; http://www.gsi.ie/ | ||
| Department of Public Expenditure and Reform | 2011-07-06 | Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011; S.I. No. 401/2011; http://per.gov.ie/ | ||
| Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited | 2011-10-14 | 2013-02-07 | After the transfer of the business of Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) to Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited on 1 July 2011, the Bank’s name was changed to Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited, and it traded as IBRC until going into special liquidation on 7 February 2013. | http://www.ibrc.ie/Media_centre/IBRC_news/Press_Releases/Press_Release_Pages/Change_of_Name_%E2%80%93_Anglo_Irish_Bank_Corporation_Limited.html; Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Act 2013; S.I. No. 36/2013; CRO, Registered Company No. 22045 |
| Irish Life Ltd. | 2011-03-31 | 2013-07-18 | The Minister for Finance had a 100% direct shareholding in Irish Life and its subsidiary companies. Irish Life was sold in July 2013 to Canada’s Great-West Lifeco. | Statement by the Dept of Finance: http://finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=7295; Laeven & Valencia, 'Systemic Banking Crises Database: An Update', IMF Working Paper WP/12/163, p. 29.; 'State closes €1.3 billion sale of Irish Life to Canada’s Great-West Lifeco', Irish Times, 19 July 2013 |
| Competition and Consumer Protection Commission | 2014-10-31 | Resulted from a merger of the Competition Authority and Consumer Protection Agency | www.ccpc.ie; Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014; S.I. No. 367/2014 - Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 (Establishment Day) Order 2014 | |
| International Protection Office | 2016-12-31 | Replaced the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) | www.ipo.gov.ie; International Protection Act 2015; S.I. No. 661/2016 - International Protection Act 2015 (Establishment Day) Order 2016 | |
| Ireland Strategic Investment Fund | 2014-12-22 | ISIF has a statutory mandate to invest on a commercial basis in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. Its predecessor was the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF). | www.ntma.ie; www.isif.ie; National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; S.I. No. 586/2014 | |
| Tax Appeals Commission | 2016-03-21 | Replaced the Office of the Appeal Commissioners | www.taxappeals.ie; Finance (Tax Appeals) Act 2015; S.I. No. 111/2016 | |
| Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman | 2018-01-01 | Result of merger of the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman and Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau in January 2018 | www.fspo.ie; Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017; S.I. No. 524/2017 | |
| Home Building Finance Ireland | 2018-12-05 | www.hbfi.ie; Home Building Finance Ireland Act 2018; S.I. No. 518/2018 | ||
| Charities Regulatory Authority | 2014-10-16 | www.charitiesregulator.ie; Charities Act 2009; S.I. No. 456/2014; S.I. No. 457/2014 | ||
| Charity Appeals Tribunal | 2016-08-01 | www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/672545-charity-appeals-tribunal; Charities Act 2009; S.I. No. 209/2018 | ||
| Air Accident Investigation Unit | 2009-12-09 | www.aaiu.ie; S.I. No. 460/2009 | ||
| Central Bank of Ireland | 2010-10-01 | Replaced the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland and Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority | www.centralbank.ie; Central Bank Reform Act 2010; S.I. No. 469/2010 | |
| Electoral Commission | 2023-02-09 | The Electoral Commission was established to fulfil a broad range of functions in relation to elections, referenda and the political system, including the regulation of online political advertising. It replaced the Referendum Commission | Electoral Commission Act 2022 (No. 30 of 2022); S.I. No. 31/2023 | |
| Tailte Éireann | 2023-03-01 | Tailte Éireann is responsible for providing an authoritative property registration system, national mapping and surveying infrastructure and property valuation services for the State. As such, it is the primary national source of property information and geo-spatial data. Tailte Éireann merged the functions of the previous Property Registration Authority, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office | Tailte Éireann Act 2022 (No. 50 of 2022); S.I. No. 58/2023; https://www.valoff.ie/en/about-us/tailte-eireann/ |