The Role & Activities of the ODCE

01. What does the ODCE do?

Our primary role is to ensure that company law is being respected. To assist company officers and others understand  and comply with company law, ODCE have published a number of detailed information booklets and quick guide on the role, duties and powers of directors, secretaries, members, etc. under Ireland’s Companies Act.

Where we are satisfied that legal obligations under the Act has been or are being breached, we consider prosecuting the offenders before the Courts or taking other suitable enforcement action.

For further information please refer to the About the ODCE section of our site. You should also register your interest online for updates in ODCE activity.

02. Where can I get information on ODCE activities?

Each year ODCE publishes an Annual Report which set out its principal activities such as: outputs and outcomes during the year.  In addition, we have published a complete suite of information books and quick guides to explain the legal rules for managing a company under the Companies Act.  Also, from time to time we may issue new Publication and Statements.

To keep in touch with such activities, you may register your interest online to receive an email alert of updates in ODCE .

03. Where can I find out about my duties as a company director or secretary?

The ODCE has published a series of information books and summary guides dealing with the principal duties and powers of Companies, Company Directors, Company Secretaries, Members & Shareholders, Auditors, Creditors, Liquidators, Receivers and Examiners. These Books have been prepared in order to make the complex provisions of company law more readily understandable to a non-professional audience.  However, where anyone has a doubt as to their legal obligations or rights, they should seek independent professional legal or accountancy advice.

Court Rulings

The Director of Public Prosecutions v Mary Donnelly

Woman pleads guilty to Fraudulent Trading

Acting on the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Gardai from the ODCE this morning arrested a woman and charged her with one count of fraudulent trading contrary to section 297 of the Companies Act 1963 (as amended). The woman was brought before Limerick District Court, where, following evidence of arrest, charge and caution she entered a plea of guilty and was sent forward for sentencing to the next sitting of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

Full details of the charge are set out below:

"That you Mary Donnelly, between the 1st day of January 2013 and the 25th day of October 2013, both days inclusive, within the County of Limerick, were knowingly a party to the carrying on of the business of a company Shannonside Audio/Video Limited for a fraudulent purpose namely the dishonest solicitation of payments from Close Invoice Finance Limited trading as Close Brothers Commercial Finance by furnishing false or misleading invoices: Contrary to Section 297 of the Companies Act, 1963 as substituted by Section 137 of the Companies Act, 1990."

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Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, 16 Parnell Square, Dublin 1   Telephone: +353 1 858 5800   E-mail: info@odce.ie