‘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
71 results
Name
| From
| To
| Description
| Source
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioners of Irish Lights | 1867-01-01 | Under the Dublin Port Act (1867), responsibility for lighthouses, lightships, buoys and beacons around the coast of Ireland was vested in the Commissioners of Irish Lights. The British-Irish Act 1999 provided for merge with Foyle Fisheries Commission into the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission as the 'Lights Agency' however this did not take place (see http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/index/north-south-implementation-bodies/foyle_carlingford-and-irish-lights.htm) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.cil.ie/; " An Act for Promoting the Trade of Dublin, by rendering its Port and Harbour more commodious, 1786"; "Merchant Shipping Act of 1854"; "Dublin Port Act (1867); No. 661/1935: Irish Lights Commissioners (Adaptation) Order, 1935; No. 37/1997: MERCHANT SHIPPING (COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS) ACT, 1997; British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999 | |
| Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland | 1981-04-14 | http://www.asai.ie/ | ||
| Competition Authority | 1991-10-01 | 2014-10-31 | Took over functions of Restrictive Practices Commission in 1991. First established as a statutory non-departmental body but was converted to statutory corporation in 2002 (by the Competition Act 2002). Merged with the National Consumer Agency in 2014 to create the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.tca.ie/; Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997; S.I. No. 249/1991; Competition Acts 1991, 2002, 2006; Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 |
| Marine Institute | 1992-10-30 | Prior to 1991: The Salmon Research Trust of Ireland was established in 1955; on the 1st of January 1990 the Salmon Research Agency took charge of the facilities on behalf of the Minister for the Marine; the Fisheries Research Centre, Abbotstown became part of the Marine Institute in January 1997; in July 1999 the Salmon Research Agency was transferred to the Marine Institute | http://www.marine.ie/; The Marine Institute Act 1991; S.I. No. 316/1992 | |
| National Centre for Partnership and Performance | 2001-10-22 | 2010-04-01 | On 1 January 2007 was placed on a statutory footing as part of the new National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) | McGauran et al. 2005; National Economic and Social Development Act 2006; S.I. No 140/2010; Taoiseach's Address at the Launch of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance, 22/10/2001 |
| Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (I) | 1997-07-12 | 2010-05-02 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.entemp.ie/; S.I. No. 305/1997; S.I. No. 185/2010 | |
| Forfás | 1994-01-01 | 2014-07-31 | Body through which powers were delegated to IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland (2003). Took over functions of Industrial Development Authority and Eolas. Absorbed into Dept of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2014. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.forfas.ie/; Industrial Development Acts 1993-2003; Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014; S.I. No. 304/2014 |
| NDP/CSF Evaluation Unit | 1996-01-01 | 2006-06-01 | Replaced by Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit in Dept. of Finance (Later Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform) | McGauran et al. 2005; http://publicspendingcode.per.gov.ie/about-us/; Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure. Wednesday, 28 June 2006, Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 622 No. 78; Written Answers - Departmental Expenditure. Wednesday, 7 February 2007, Dáil Eireann Debate Vol. 631 No. 1 |
| Port of Cork Company | 1997-03-03 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.portofcork.ie/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. 95/1997 | ||
| Port of Waterford Company | 1997-06-16 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.portofwaterford.com/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. No. 253/1997 | ||
| Drogheda Port Company | 1997-03-03 | 2017-10-02 | Prior to 1997 existed as Drogheda Harbour Commissioners for about 200 years. Under the Harbours Act 2015, Drogheda Port Company was dissolved in October 2017 and transferred in its entirity to Louth County Council. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.droghedaport.ie/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. No 95/1997; S.I. No. 238/2004; Harbours Act 2015; S.I. No. 424/2017 |
| Dublin Dockland Development Authority | 1997-05-01 | 2016-03-01 | Dissolved | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dublindocklands.ie/; Dublin Docklands Development Authority Act 1997; Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Act 2015; S.I. No. 113/2016 |
| Dublin Port Company | 1997-03-03 | The port of Dublin dates back to 1707, and was managed by the Dublin Port and Docks Board from 1867. It was corporatised to become Dublin Port Company in 1997 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.dublinport.ie/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. Nos. 95 & 98/1997 | |
| Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company | 1997-03-03 | 2018-10-03 | Under the Harbours Act 2015, Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company was dissolved in October 2018 and transferred in its entirity to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.dlharbour.ie/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. No. 95/1997; S.I. No.188/1997; Harbours Act 2015; S.I. No. 391/2018 |
| Expert Group on Future Skills Needs | 1997-01-01 | http://www.skillsireland.ie/ | ||
| National Standards Authority of Ireland | 1997-04-14 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.nsai.ie/; National Standards Authority of Ireland Act 1996 | ||
| National Competitiveness Council | 1997-05-01 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.competitiveness.ie/ | ||
| Galway Harbour Company | 1997-03-03 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.galwayharbour.com/; Harbours Act 1996; www.theportofgalway.ie | ||
| New Ross Port Company | 1997-03-03 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.transport.ie/; Harbours Act 1996; S.I. No. 95/1997 | ||
| Enterprise Ireland | 1998-07-23 | Created from Forbairt (1994-secession from IDA) and and An Bord Tráchtála; A Subsidiary Body of Forfás until dissolution of Forfás in 2014 | McGauran et al. 2005; www.enterprise-ireland.com/; Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998; S.I. No.252/1998; S.I. No.127/1999; Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014; S.I. No. 304/2014 | |
| Equality Authority | 1999-10-18 | 2014-11-01 | Replaced the Employment Equality Agency which was set up in 1977 under the Employment Equality Act 1977. Merged with the Irish Human Rights Commission in 2014 to create the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.equality.ie/; The Employment Equality Act 1998; the Equal Status Act 2000; www.ihrec.ie; Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; S.I. No. 450/2014 |
| InterTradeIreland | 1999-12-02 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.intertradeireland.com/; British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 | ||
| North/South Ministerial Council | 1999-03-08 | McGauran et al. 2005; British-Irish Agreement Act 1999; http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/ | ||
| 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 | ||
| Waterways Ireland | 1999-12-02 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.waterwaysireland.org/; the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 | ||
| Western Development Commission | 1999-02-01 | Was established on a non-statutory basis in 1997 and became a statutory body in January 1999 on the basis of the Western Development Commission Act 1998 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.wdc.ie/; Western Development Commission Act 1998; S.I. No.9/1999 | |
| Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology | 2001-06-01 | 2012-03-29 | McGauran et al. 2005; http://research.ie/; Written answers, Tuesday, 13 May 2014, Department of Education and Skills -Departmental Bodies Data | |
| Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement | 2001-11-28 | 2022-07-07 | Replaced by the Corporate Enforcement Authority | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.odce.ie/; Company Law Enforcement Act 2001; the Companies Act 1963 to 2006; Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 (Commencement) Order 2022 |
| Eolas | 1988-01-01 | 1994-01-01 | Created by merge of National Board for Science and Technology and the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards | Science and Technology Act, 1987; Industrial Development Act 1993 |
| Digital Hub Development Agency | 2003-07-21 | Was created in 2003 at the time of the dissolution of the Digital Media Development Limited | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.thedigitalhub.com/; Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 | |
| Institute for Industrial Research and Standards | 1946-08-27 | 1988-01-01 | Set up as an independent Government sponsored organisation in 1946; reconstituted in 1961; Merge with National Board for Science & Technology to form Eolas | Industrial Research and Standards Acts 1946 & 1961; Science and Technology Act, 1987 |
| 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 | ||
| National Development Finance Agency | 2003-01-01 | In 2005 the role and functions of the NDFA were expanded to include a specialised procurement delivery function. In 2014, the NDFA was absorbed into the National Treasury Management Agency but is still operational under the same name. | McGauran et al. 2005; http://www.ndfa.ie/; National Development Finance Agency Act, 2002; S.I. No. 617/2002; National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014; S.I. No. 586/2014; www.ntma.ie | |
| Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government | 2004-06-23 | 2012-10-26 | Was established in 2004 as part of a reorganised governance structure for the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (ICSTI),now known as the Advisory Council for Science, Technology and Innovation. In 2012 was absorbed into Science Foundation Ireland with the Director General of Science Foundation Ireland taking on the role of Chief Scientific Adviser. | http://www.chiefscientificadviser.ie/; 'Tánaiste announces appointment of Ireland's first Chief Science Adviser', press release, Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation; SFI Press Release 26 October 2012, 'Director General of SFI to take on additional role of Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government'; 'Summary of agency rationalisation measures as at January 2014: Table B', Dept. of Public Expenditure and Reform |
| Eirgrid | 2001-02-07 | SI 445 of 2000; Electricity Regulation Act 1999; SI 60 of 2005; http://www.eirgrid.com/ | ||
| An Foras Tionscal | 1952-01-01 | 1970-04-01 | Absorbed into Industrial Development Authority | Undeveloped Areas Act, 1952; Industrial Development Act, 1969 |
| Department of Economic Planning and Development | 1977-12-13 | 1980-01-20 | Functions transferred to Department of Finance, 1980 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1977; S.I. No. 12/1980 |
| Veterinary Council of Ireland | 2006-01-01 | Created by reconstitution of former Veterinary Council (1931-2006) | Veterinary Practice Act 2005; http://www.vci.ie/ | |
| Veterinary Council | 1931-11-10 | 2006-01-01 | Dissolved in 2006, replaced by Veterinary Council of Ireland | Veterinary Surgeons Act 1931; Veterinary Practice Act 2005 |
| Fair Trade Commission | 1953-05-07 | 1972-06-20 | Replaced by Restrictive Practices Commission in 1972 | Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1953; Restrictive Practices Act, 1972 |
| Restrictive Practices Commission | 1972-06-20 | 1991-10-01 | Continuation/name change of Fair Trade Commission; functions transferred to Competition Authority in 1991 | Restrictive Practices Act, 1972; Competition Act, 1991 |
| Department of Industry and Commerce (II) | 1986-02-19 | 1993-01-19 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 41/1986; S.I. No. 19/1993 | |
| Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy | 1977-09-23 | 1980-01-22 | Responsibility for energy transferred to Department of Energy (formerly Department of Economic Planning) S.I. No. 9/1980 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 306/1977; S.I. No. 10/1980 |
| Department of Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism | 1983-12-17 | 1986-02-19 | Responsibility for industry transferred from Dept of Industry and Energy in 1983 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 384/1983; S.I. No. 41/1986 |
| Department of Enterprise and Employment | 1993-01-20 | 1997-07-11 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; S.I. No. 19/1993; S.I. No. 305/1997 | |
| Department of Public Enterprise | 1997-07-12 | 2002-06-18 | S.I. No. 299/1997; S.I. No. 305/2002; http://www.transport.ie/; IPA Administration Journal 2007, Vol. 55 No. 1 | |
| Department of Finance | 1924-06-01 | Dept of Finance took over responsibility for e-government from Dept of Taoiseach in 2008 | http://www.finance.gov.ie/; Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 | |
| Department of Industry and Commerce (I) | 1924-06-01 | 1977-09-22 | Coakley & Gallagher 2005; Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924; S.I. No. 306/1977 | |
| National Development Corporation Ltd | 1986-06-11 | 1991-12-30 | Replaced National Enterprise Agency; Absorbed by Industrial Development Authority | National Development Corporation Act, 1986; Industrial Development (Amendment) Act, 1991 |
| National Enterprise Agency, Ltd | 1980-05-16 | 1986-06-11 | Replaced by National Development Corporation | National Development Corporation Act, 1986; Dáil Éireann - Volume 322 - 24 June, 1980 - Written Answers. - National Enterprise Agency |
| National Science Council | 1968-01-04 | 1978-04-05 | Established on OECD recommendation; Replaced by National Board for Science and Technology | Dáil Éireann - Volume 293 - 04 November, 1976; National Board for Science and Technology Bill, 1976: Second Stage; National Board for Science and Technology Act 1977; 'Science Policy Necessary' Irish Times, 5 January 1968. |
| Fóir Teoranta | 1972-03-28 | 1991-04-02 | Replaced Taiscí Stáit Teoranta in 1972; Absorbed into Industrial Credit Corporation Public Limited Company in 1991 | Fóir Teoranta Act, 1972; Foir Teoranta (Amendment) Act, 1973; Fóir Teoranta (Dissolution) Act, 1990 |
| National Prices Commission | 1971-10-15 | 1986-01-01 | S.I. No. 285/1971; Lyons, P. (2007) 'Competition and Merger Law and Practice 1953-2002' p. 219 (available at http://webird.tcd.ie/bitstream/2262/11978/1/LyonsP0507.pdf) | |
| Merchandise Marks Commission | 1932-03-10 | 1980-01-01 | Merchandise Marks Act, 1931; Irish Times, 12 March 1932; Dáil Éireann - Volume 323 - 23 October, 1980--Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - State Advisory Bodies | |
| An Coimisiún Dumpála | 1969-01-01 | 1985-01-01 | Imposition of Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act 1968; Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Dumping Controls. Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 259 No. 8, Wednesday, 8 March 1972; Dáil Éireann - Volume 358 - 07 May, 1985--Written Answers. - Statutory/Non-Statutory Bodies and Committees | |
| Credit Union Advisory Committee | 1966-03-01 | Credit Union Act, 1966; S.I. No. 29/1967; Credit Union Act 1997; S.I. No. 193/2007; http://www.financialregulator.ie/ABOUT-US/COMMITTEE/Pages/statutory-panels.aspx | ||
| Irish Life Assurance Co., Ltd | 1939-03-15 | 1991-07-01 | Former subsidiaries include Irish Estates, Ltd. and Ilasco | Insurance Act 1936; Insurance Amendment Act 1938; Palcic and Reeves 2007 |
| Córas Tráchtála Teoranta | 1951-06-01 | 1959-09-01 | Replaced by Córas Tráchtála (Irish Export Board) | Export Promotion Act, 1959; Dáil Éireann - Volume 176 - 09 July, 1959--Export Promotion Bill, 1959—Second Stage; IPA Yearbook 1967 |
| Irish Shipping Ltd | 1941-03-21 | 1984-11-14 | Irish Shipping Limited Act, 1947; Dáil Éireann - Volume 353 - 14 November, 1984--Irish Shipping Limited: Motion | |
| Ceimicí Teoranta | 1947-01-29 | 1986-07-30 | Monarchana Alcóil na hÉireann, Teoranta under 1938 Act; change of name under Industrial Alcohol (Amendment) Act, 1947; went into liquidation in 1986. | Industrial Alcohol (Amendment) Act, 1947; '£4.5m. losses force closure of Ceimici Teo' Irish Independent, 31 July 1986 |
| Monarchana Alcóil na hÉireann, Teoranta | 1938-11-11 | 1947-01-29 | Replaced Industrial Alcohol Advisory Board, replaced by Ceimicí Teoranta | Industrial Alcohol Act, 1938; Industrial Alcohol (Amendment) Act, 1947 |
| Tea Importers Ltd | 1958-01-01 | 1973-07-02 | Replaced Tea Importers (Eire) Ltd.; disbanded in 1973 to conform to EEC regulations - large shareholdings were sold and the resulting company was restructured as the Irish Bank of Commerce Ltd. | Tea (Purchase and Importation) Act, 1958; Aylmer, D., 'Tea for the Irish' in the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal, Jun. 1999; Seanad Éireann - Volume 49 - 16 April, 1958--Tea (Purchase and Importation) Bill, 1957—Second Stage; 'Jessel taking stake in Tea Importers group' Irish Independent, 3 July 1973; 'Tea Importers (1958) Limited' Announcement, The Irish Press, 4 October, 1973 |
| Trustee Savings Bank | 1992-06-01 | 2001-04-01 | Nationalised and merged with Irish Life & Permanent (formerly Irish Life Assurance and Irish Permanent Building Society)--now trades under the name Permanent TSB | Trustee Savings Banks Act, 1989; S.I. No. 55/1992; S.I. No. 175/2001; Palcic and Reeves 2007; MacCarthaigh 2009; http://web.archive.org/web/19991119021859/http://www.tsbbank.ie/ |
| Irish Laboratory Accreditation Board | 1985-07-01 | 1995-02-01 | Predecessor of Irish National Accreditation Board | SI 4/1991; http://www.inab.ie/aboutus/ Dáil Éireann - Volume 465 - 09 May, 1996 Private Members' Business. - National Standards Authority of Ireland Bill, 1996: Second Stage (Resumed). 'Board gives formal accreditation to labs' Irish Times, 16 April 1987; Report of the Laboratory of the Dublin Region Public Analyst for the years 1995 and 1996, Eastern Health Board |
| National Asset Management Agency | 2009-12-21 | http://www.nama.ie/; National Asset Management Agency Act, 2009 | ||
| Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | 2011-06-02 | 2017-09-02 | Department replaced by Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in 2017 following election of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach | http://www.deti.ie/; S.I. No. 245/2011 S.I. No. 364/2017, http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/si/364 |
| Credit Review Office | 2010-03-01 | The enabling legislation is the guidelines issued under section 210 (1) of the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 | http://www.creditreview.ie/; 'Credit Review Office - Information Note' Department of Finance, http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=6254 | |
| Prices Commission | 1932-12-23 | 1958-04-17 | Control of Prices Act, 1932; Control of Prices Act, 1937; Prices Commission (Extension of Functions) Act, 1938; Prices Act, 1958 | |
| Social Finance Foundation | 2007-01-25 | In 2012, SFF was given responsibility for the administration of a Microfinance Loan Fund through their subsidiary Microfinance Ireland (Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012). | http://www.sff.ie/; Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012; CRO, company registration number 433581; Written answers, Wednesday, 12 February 2014, Department of Finance, Departmental Bodies | |
| Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission | 2014-11-01 | Result of a merger of the Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority | www.ihrec.ie; Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; S.I. No. 450/2014 | |
| Corporate Enforcement Authority | 2022-07-07 | The Corporate Enforcement Authority's functions 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; and operating a regime of restriction and disqualification undertakings in respect of directors of insolvent companies. The CEA replaced the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement | https://cea.gov.ie/en-ie/About; Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 (No. 48 of 2021); S.I. No. 337/2022 |