Ireland maintains public registers of restricted and disqualified persons. To check a director, first confirm the person's current or historical company appointment, then use the dedicated Disqualified or Restricted Person Search through CRO CORE. Do not treat an ordinary director search, a dissolved-company association or a matching name as proof of a legal restriction.
Use two separate checks: a company/director search answers “which companies is this person recorded against?” The CRO restricted and disqualified person search answers “is this person recorded on the statutory register?” You usually need both to make a reliable assessment.
Restriction and disqualification are not the same
| Status | Practical meaning | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted | The person may act only in relation to a company that meets statutory capital and related conditions | Period, identity and whether the company satisfies the conditions |
| Disqualified | The person is prohibited from acting in the capacities covered by the disqualification for the applicable period | Start, end, scope and the exact person concerned |
| No register result | No matching public entry was found from the search performed | Spelling, identity, search date and whether further official checks are required |
CRO guidance states that restriction lasts for five years. A restricted person can act as a director or secretary only where the relevant company is adequately capitalised: the published thresholds are €500,000 for a public limited company (other than an investment company) or public unlimited company, and €100,000 for other company types, subject to the detailed rules. A disqualification period can vary, although CRO notes that five years is common.
Step 1: confirm the company and the director record
Search the legal company name or CRO number and open the company profile. Record the director's name, appointment status and the company number. Check whether the source presents the person as current or former; an old annual return can show someone who later resigned.
Start with the Irish company director checker or read the free director lookup guide. For official evidence, inspect the current CRO record and relevant B10 officer filings. A B10 can record an appointment, cessation or change in a director's particulars.
Step 2: use the dedicated CRO person search
The Companies Registration Office provides a Disqualified or Restricted Person Search through CORE. The CRO describes the results as an extract from registers that are updated regularly and also warns that occasional inaccuracies can occur. Record the date of your search, especially when the result forms part of onboarding or a transaction file.
- Open CRO CORE and choose the restricted/disqualified person search.
- Enter the person's name carefully, including reasonable spelling variants where appropriate.
- Compare all available identifying details; never rely on the name alone.
- Record the status, relevant dates and source result.
- Reconcile the result with the company appointment you are checking.
- Obtain official clarification or professional advice if identity or legal effect is uncertain.
Why name matching is the hardest part
Different people can have identical names. The same person can also appear with a middle name, initial, punctuation difference or historical address. A loose web search can therefore produce a serious false positive. Match as many independent details as lawfully available and proportionate: associated company, appointment dates, prior names or other identifiers shown by the official source.
Do not publish an allegation or reject a person solely because a common name appears in search results. If the decision has legal, employment, lending or reputational consequences, confirm the official entry and obtain advice on identity and relevance.
What director restriction means
Restriction is a public-protection measure associated with the conduct of directors of insolvent companies. The CEA explains that a director can avoid restriction by satisfying the Authority or court that they acted honestly and responsibly, cooperated with the liquidator and that there is no other just and equitable reason to restrict them.
A restriction does not mean the person can never participate in any company. It imposes conditions, including the capital requirements described above. Whether a proposed appointment complies depends on the company type, paid-up capital and the exact legal circumstances—not just the badge “restricted.”
What director disqualification means
Disqualification is more prohibitive. A disqualified person cannot act as a director or in the other capacities covered for the period of disqualification. The protection extends beyond a title on the CRO record: CRO guidance notes that a disqualification applying to a director also applies to a shadow director—someone who is not formally appointed but in practice acts in that capacity and is accepted as doing so.
The underlying basis and duration matter. A court can make an order, while the Companies Act framework also allows restriction or disqualification undertakings accepted through the Corporate Enforcement Authority in applicable cases. Use the official register entry rather than a newspaper headline or old search result.
Five conclusions you should not draw
- “A company failed, so every director was disqualified.” False. Insolvency, restriction and disqualification are separate facts.
- “A director served on a struck-off company, so they committed wrongdoing.” Not established by the association alone.
- “No search result means the person is risk-free.” It answers only the scope of the register search performed.
- “A restricted director cannot act anywhere.” Restriction permits acting where statutory conditions are met.
- “A current director automatically owns the company.” Management office and share ownership are different questions.
How the check fits into company due diligence
A director-register check is one part of a proportionate review. For a new supplier, credit customer, investment or acquisition, also confirm the legal entity, current CRO status, filing history, registered office, financial statements and registered charges. Check the authority of the person who is actually signing or changing bank details.
Review patterns, not raw counts. A director can legitimately hold multiple appointments in a group, professional practice or special-purpose companies. Former-company dissolutions can have ordinary explanations. Focus on dates, company outcomes, recurring late filings, unexplained changes and facts relevant to your decision.
A practical verification record
| Record | Why retain it |
|---|---|
| Legal company name and CRO number | Proves which entity was reviewed |
| Director name and appointment status | Distinguishes current from historical involvement |
| CRO restricted/disqualified search date and result | Shows what the official extract returned at the time |
| Identity-matching notes | Reduces the risk of confusing people with the same name |
| Decision, controls and next review date | Turns information into a consistent process |
When to use a company report
A restricted/disqualified register check concerns the person's legal status. A Businesses.ie Irish company report serves a different purpose: it consolidates available public information about the company, officers, filings and financial history for review. It is useful when you want the wider company context around the appointment.
For higher-value decisions, use the report as a starting point and obtain the relevant official CRO documents. If the appointment may breach a court order, undertaking or statutory condition, seek qualified legal advice or contact the appropriate authority.
Official sources
- CRO: Disqualified/Restricted Person Search
- Corporate Enforcement Authority: restriction and disqualification FAQs
- CEA: functions and public protection role
- CRO: duties of directors and secretaries
This article provides general information and is not legal, employment or credit advice. Verify current official records for the specific person and company before making a consequential decision.