The European Commission has opened infringement proceedings against Ireland for failing to transpose certain provisions of a directive on restructuring and insolvency into Irish law.

The directive imposes an obligation on member states to ensure that, in cases of restructuring, insolvency, and discharge of debt, the parties involved can carry out certain actions electronically.

The actions covered include the filing of claims, the submission of restructuring or repayment plans, and notifications to creditors.

The commission said that Ireland, along with Austria, had failed to communicate the respective measures to it.

Both countries now have two months to respond to the formal letters sent by the commission on the issue.

Permit procedures

Ireland is also one of 26 EU states that have been sent letters of formal notice for failing to fully transpose a revised directive on renewable energy into national law.

The directive entered into force in November 2023 and certain provisions had to be transposed into national law by 1 July 2024.

These provisions include measures to simplify and accelerate permitting procedures, both for renewable-energy projects and for the necessary infrastructure projects to integrate the additional renewable energy into the electricity system.

They also include clear time limits for permit-granting procedures targeted to specific technologies or types of projects, the strengthening of the role of the single contact point for applications, and the presumption that renewable-energy projects and the related grid infrastructure are of overriding public interest.