Overview of electronic signature law and its legality in Ireland

Electronic signatures have been legally recognized in Ireland since 2000 with the passing of the Electronic Commerce Act.

As a European Union (EU) member, Ireland also abides by the Electronic Identification and Trust Services Regulation (eIDAS) that came into effect in 2016 and governs the EU.

Here are some of the key takeaways that we’ll discuss in greater detail:

Electronic signatures have as much legal validity as handwritten signatures under Irish law
As an EU member state, Ireland falls under the eIDAS regulation along with Ireland’s own Electronic Commerce Act 2000
Simple electronic signatures (SES), advanced electronic signatures (AES), and qualified electronic signatures (QES) are the three acceptable types of e-Signatures in Ireland
Electronic signatures might not be accepted for documents, such as powers of attorney, wills, and property transfers in Ireland

Electronic signature law in Ireland

Section 9 of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 states with regard to electronic signatures, originals, contracts, and related matters that “information (including information incorporated by reference) shall not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely on the grounds that it is wholly or partly in electronic form, whether as an electronic communication or otherwise.”

In other words, electronic signatures and documents have just as much legal validity and are equally enforceable as wet ink signatures and paper documents under Irish law.

Regardless of the legality, parties conducting business electronically are often required to maintain a digital audit trail with detailed electronic records that support the existence, authenticity, and valid acceptance of a contract.

It’s important to note that Ireland is also under eIDAS regulation, and those regulations outline three different levels of e-Signatures:

Simple electronic signature (SES): This is the most basic and least secure type of e-Signature, and it could include someone typing their name, an image of a handwritten signature, an “I Agree” button on a website, or an email signature.
Advanced electronic signature (AES): AES is a type of e-signature that is unique to the person signing the document. eIDAS regulation defines these e-Signatures as capable of being created to enable the signatory to maintain control, identifying the signatory through a unique link, and being securely connected to the electronic document so that any further changes to the data are detectable.
Qualified electronic signature (QES): A QES meets the highest standard of security and is typically created on an appropriate creation device (QSCD) which comes with a qualified certificate. eIDAS regulation deems QES legally equivalent to a handwritten signature in EU member states.

Use of electronic signatures in Ireland

Irish law accommodates e-Signatures and electronic transactions as a whole, and since Ireland is also a member of the European Union, they’re required to acknowledge digital signatures as legally binding.

The use of simple (SES) and advanced (AES) e-Signatures is fairly accepted across the board, but some transactions may still require a QES. This may vary depending on the parties involved.

Here are some potential use cases for e-Signatures in Ireland, including but not limited to:

Human resource documents: Employee contracts, onboarding paperwork, etc.
Healthcare documents: Treatment authorization, confirmation of notification, etc.
Financial documents: Lending contracts, insurance agreements, etc.
Consumer transactions: Sales contracts, purchase orders, real estate transactions, etc.
Commercial agreements: Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), procurement contracts, etc.

These are standard documents and agreements that can be created easily in PandaDoc’s digital software solution to increase efficiency and maximize your results while maintaining the highest level of privacy and security and complying with Irish law and the eIDAS.

Specific legal requirements for e-signatures in Ireland

Section 13 of the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 states that while an electronic signature may be used in cases where a signature of a person or public body is required, there may be certain requirements that need to be met.

The party to which the document or electronic signature is being submitted may require an advanced electronic signature (AES), a qualified certificate (QES), or that the signature be issued by an accredited certification service provider or created by a secure signature creation device.

Additionally, the person in possession of the signature must consent to the use of their electronic signature.

When not typically appropriate for electronic signatures or digital transaction management in Ireland

While SES and AES are legally acceptable for many private documents and simple transactions, there are some agreements and entities requiring QES.

Beyond digital signatures, there are also some cases where a handwritten signature might still be required, and these include but are not limited to:

Documents that need to be notarized
The signing of wills codicils
Property transfers
Affidavits
Enduring powers of attorney
Medical prescriptions issued by a practitioner registered in an EEA state besides Ireland
Court or tribunal-related documents

A qualified electronic signature may also be mandatory in situations with documents requiring a witness.

You would do this by using a qualified electronic creation device (QESD) and receiving a digital certificate upon completion.

However, any document requiring notarization falls as an exclusion to the wide availability of electronic signatures under Irish law as they need to be done in person with a wet-ink signature and appropriate identification.

As a general rule, staying up to date with Irish law and any updates to policy is highly recommended.

If you’re uncertain whether the use of electronic signatures is allowed in a particular transaction, then it’s best practice to get legal advice and confirm with all of the parties involved.

Summary of electronic and digital signature legality in Ireland

The use of electronic signatures is legal in Ireland and is an appropriate option for most agreements and transactions.

SES and AES are accepted by many parties for simple agreements, while QES may be required for transactions that require a higher level of security.

It’s recommended to confirm with the governing authority and the parties involved before issuing an electronic signature to ensure you’re able to meet their requirements.

Create legally compliant agreements and documents in PandaDoc’s electronic signature software and remove any doubts as to whether they meet Irish, eIDAS, ESIGN, and UETA requirements. Sign up for a free trial and get started creating your agreements today.