Consumer Representative Actions – Third Irish "Qualified Entity" Designated

Digital Rights Ireland has become the third organisation to be designated as a qualified entity ("QE") by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (the "Minister") under the Representative Actions for the Protection of the Collective Interests of Consumers Act 2023 (the "Act"). This follows the similar designations of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties ("ICCL") and noyb-European Center for Digital Rights ("noyb") last year (discussed in our previous updates here and here respectively).

A QE acting on behalf of consumers impacted by infringements of prescribed consumer legislation is the only vehicle able to bring a representative action under the Act, which was commenced in April 2024. The register of QEs, which must be kept and maintained by the Minister under the requirements of section 16 of the Act, is available on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website here. This now records that Digital Rights Ireland has complied with the