As the June 28th 2025 European Accessibility Act (EAA) deadline approaches, many businesses in Ireland are beginning to ask what exactly this means for their digital products and services. The EAA introduces a unified framework for accessibility across the EU, and Irish companies operating digital platforms or selling digital services will need to understand how these new rules impact their operations. Ireland’s unique position between the EU, UK, and US also adds an important international dimension.
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a piece of EU legislation designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It sets out mandatory requirements for a wide range of digital goods and services that are considered essential to daily life. As part of this, the Act applies to much of the EU digital economy, and all businesses falling under its scope must comply by 28 June 2025.
What does the EAA cover in Ireland and the EU? The EAA applies to services and products such as smartphones, tablets, computers, e-commerce websites, online banking services, ticketing systems, e-readers, and digital kiosks. It also applies to the websites and apps that power these tools, requiring that interfaces be accessible for users with visual, hearing, and motor impairments.
There are exemptions. Microenterprises in Ireland with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover under €2 million are not required to comply, and a small minority of legacy devices and terminals are allowed to remain in use until the end of their economic lifespan. However, for most digital businesses and consumer-facing platforms, the EAA compliance deadline in Ireland represents a firm and immediate legal obligation.
Ireland’s specific regulatory environment
What other accessibility laws apply to digital services in Ireland? While the EAA provides a harmonised European framework, Ireland also has national regulations that go beyond the minimum standards of the EAA, and address different, but related, issues. These laws increase the level of compliance required for digital content, especially in the public sector.
Most obviously, Irish firms must comply with modern consumer protection through the Consumer Rights Act 2022, which applies to digital goods and services and ensures they meet functionality, performance, and accessibility expectations. Meanwhile, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act of 2022 and the Digital Services Act of 2024 create a wider legal environment that addresses content moderation, platform accountability, and consumer trust.
So, while the EAA will raise the bar for private-sector accessibility, Irish firms already exist within a broader regulatory environment that applies to usability and inclusion in a more general sense. Fortunately, accessibility improvements can automatically address these more generic usability issues, providing greater value to every user of your services.
The UK, USA, and Irish importers
One issue that is particularly relevant to Irish firms is international trade. Because the EAA applies based on where a service is offered (not where it is created) Irish importers of digital products and services from outside the EU must ensure that everything they place on the EU market complies with accessibility requirements. Given that Ireland’s three largest sources of imports (the UK, USA, and China) will not be affected by the EAA, this makes compliance a slightly more complicated challenge than elsewhere in the EU.
In short, UK and US-developed software, websites, and digital tools must meet EAA accessibility standards if they are being resold, adapted, or repackaged by Irish businesses. A mobile app developed in the UK, for example, cannot be legally sold to EU customers by an Irish company unless its interface, navigation, and content are accessible to users with disabilities. Likewise, an e-commerce platform sourced from the US must offer accessible design before it can be launched in Ireland or other EU member states.
What does this mean for Irish technology companies and importers? It means supply chain checks, updated contracts, and accessibility audits will all become routine for compliance. As the market-entry point for goods or services into the EU, Irish importers will become responsible for accessibility checks and adaptations. This also means that Irish firms who can effectively manage the EAA will reap significant rewards, as Ireland becomes a compliance gatekeeper for digital accessibility in the EU.
Irish producers, EU markets
Global trade dynamics have shifted rapidly in recent years. Ireland’s digital exports have increasingly focused on EU markets, driven in part by Brexit, changes in US regulatory consistency, and growing alignment with EU frameworks on data protection and accessibility.
Post-Brexit trade barriers with the UK have made the EU single market more attractive and more essential for Irish businesses. At the same time, regulatory uncertainty in the US around privacy, AI, and accessibility make the EU’s more predictable legal approach increasingly appealing for digital product developers.
This makes compliance with the EAA not just a legal requirement, but a strategic opportunity for Irish companies focused on digital exports to Europe. By aligning with accessibility standards early and embedding them into their design processes, Irish firms can not only reduce their legal risk but also enhance their competitiveness in European markets.
Irish firms that deliver accessible websites, applications, and digital services will position themselves to thrive as accessibility becomes a standard expectation across both public and private sectors.
The EAA in practice
The European Accessibility Act in Ireland can transform how we think about digital inclusion, from software development and interface design to procurement and distribution. Irish companies, whether they are developing new platforms or importing services from abroad, must understand the scope and standards of the EAA to remain competitive and compliant.
As the EAA deadline draws near, digital service providers need to prepare for this dramatic regulatory shift.
The good news is that it is not too late to act.
Get in touch with Kooba’s team today to fully understand your options, and take the first steps towards European compliance.
