Ireland's economy has gone through some remarkable changes over a short period of time. While struggling with growth throughout much of the 20th century, the country experienced an economic boom during the late 90s and early 2000s, dubbed the \"Celtic Tiger\". Although Ireland's growth has levelled off in recent years, it remains a stable, high-income economy that punches well above its weight as a centre of multinational enterprise. For a country of five million people, Ireland hosts a disproportionately high number of multinationals — drawn by a low corporate tax rate, a well-regulated economy, and an English-speaking workforce — making it one of the most attractive entry points into the European market.
However, setting up in Ireland comes with its own complexities. A common misconception is that Ireland's payroll and taxation rules resemble those of other EU countries, or of its nearest neighbour, the UK. The two countries operate different tax regimes, different employment legislation, and different tax year calendars. Ireland's system has evolved significantly in recent years, with real-time reporting introduced in 2019 and mandatory auto-enrollment for workplace pensions following in January 2026. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by experts Deirdre Edwards, Service Director for ADP Ireland, and Ben Dale-Gough, Senior Director of Service for Northern Europe. We also speak to Kieran, a bar manager in Dublin who shares his experiences with the auto-enrollment pension scheme.
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