14. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the primary operational difficulties that have arisen due to failures in the IT system at the Companies Registration Office, CRO, related to the strike-off process; how these difficulties have affected the CRO's management of its obligations to monitor and enforce compliance with statutory filing obligations under the Companies Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21290/25]

Sentiment score: -0.26

25. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total expenditure to date in 2025 on resolving IT system failures for the Companies Registration Office, including the operational and staffing costs of carrying out the company strike-off process manually since the issue was identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21291/25]

Sentiment score: -0.03

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I wish to ask the Minister about the primary operational difficulties that have arisen due to failures in the IT system in the Companies Registration Office, CRO, related to the strike-off process, and how these difficulties have impacted the CRO's management of its statutory obligations to monitor and enforce that strike-off process.

Sentiment score: -0.11

I thank the Minister. I am asking about the operational breakdown at the Companies Registration Office and specifically how the failure in the CRO's IT system has undermined the functioning of the company strike-off. We know, and it was confirmed by reporting earlier this year, that the CRO has been forced, due to persistent failures in its IT systems, to resort to manually striking companies off. The Minister has confirmed that, while there is some non-manual processing taking place, manual processing is still taking place, which is not satisfactory. That regression to manual processing is not only inefficient; it is an admission that the system that was put in place at public expense is not delivering on its core function. This has reportedly created a backlog in enforcement actions but it is also eroding legal certainty for businesses trying to comply with their filing obligations. The CRO currently has a statutory obligation to monitor compliance and initiate strike-offs where companies fail to meet their obligations but that power has to be exercised transparently, fairly and predictably.

Sentiment score: -0.15