The Competing EU and UK Influence on Corporate Governance in Ireland Following Brexit

Abstract

Company law and corporate governance in the Republic of Ireland have long been heavily influenced by developments in the UK. However, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union raises the question whether this will continue to be the case. This article examines the historical development as well as the way forward for corporate governance and the position of shareholders in Ireland following Brexit. It is argued that the influence from global trends, such as climate change mitigation, will have a significant impact on corporate governance in both the EU and the UK. However, any changes in corporate governance may occur at a different pace in the UK and EU, where Ireland would be more under the sphere of influence of the EU. As these trends generally set out to decrease any emphasis on short-term shareholder value creation, it is likely to impact the position of shareholders in Ireland as well. corporate governance, comparative law, shareholder primacy