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Since our last survey in 2020, there have been several events that have influenced the board meeting location. First, the incorporation rule has become ubiquitous so that companies are more comfortable relying on their Irish incorporation to remain Irish tax resident. Travel bans during the COVID-19 period resulted in more meetings being held online and also in a desire among directors not to travel as frequently as before. As a result, the overall proportion of board meetings held in Ireland has fallen. A very small number of companies hold less than 50% of their regularly scheduled meetings in Ireland and the vast majority hold 50% or more in Ireland.
Unscheduled meetings are less likely to take place in Ireland than scheduled meetings due to obvious logistical constraints. Anecdotally, the more concerned with "substance" questions the company is, the higher proportion of Irish board meetings. The number of unscheduled board meetings varies significantly by company practice and by market conditions, particularly levels of M&A and material financing activity. Only a small number of unscheduled board meetings took place in Ireland, typically in connection with transformational transactions.
How many regularly scheduled board meetings did your company hold (or plans to hold) during 2025?
How many regularly scheduled board meetings does your company plan to hold in 2026?
How many unscheduled board meetings were held in the last three years?
What format are you planning for your next AGM (annual shareholder meeting)?
This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.
