Website Terms & Conditions in Ireland: What to Include
Steven | TrustYourWebsite · 16 June 2026 · Last updated: June 2026
Terms and conditions are the rules your customers agree to when they buy from you or use your service. They set expectations, limit your liability and give you something to point to when a dispute arises.
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Are terms and conditions required by law?
For most service websites, no. There is no Irish or EU law that says every website must have terms and conditions. A consultant's portfolio or a restaurant homepage can exist without them.
For online sales it is different. The Consumer Rights Act 2022 and the distance-selling rules require you to give buyers specific pre-contract information before they complete a purchase. Terms and conditions are the standard way to do that, so in practice every Irish webshop needs a proper set.
What to include in your terms and conditions
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Business identity | Trading name, CRO number, address and contact details |
| Products or services | Clear description and any limits |
| Pricing and payment | Prices incl. VAT, accepted methods, when payment is due |
| Delivery | Timelines, the default 30-day delivery period, who bears risk |
| Cancellation | The 14-day cooling-off right and its exceptions |
| Statutory rights | Goods must be of merchantable quality, fit for purpose and as described |
| Liability | Reasonable limits that do not exclude statutory rights |
| Complaints | How to complain and your response time |
| Governing law | Irish law and the courts that have jurisdiction |
Ireland-specific points
Consumer Rights Act 2022. In force since 29 November 2022, it consolidated Irish consumer law for goods, services and digital content. A contract term must be fair and transparent, and the Act puts the burden on the trader to show that it is. An unfair term is not binding on the consumer.
14-day cancellation. For distance contracts the consumer has 14 days to cancel without a reason. The period runs from delivery for goods. If you do not inform the buyer of the right, it extends by up to 12 months. See our e-commerce checkout compliance guide for how this fits the buy flow.
CCPC. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission enforces consumer law in Ireland and publishes guidance for traders.
T&Cs vs privacy policy vs cookie policy
An online shop needs all three and they should stay separate.
- Terms and conditions govern the commercial relationship: purchases, delivery, cancellation and disputes.
- Your privacy policy explains how you handle personal data and is required by GDPR.
- Your cookie policy lists the cookies your site sets and why.
Do not merge them into one document. Each has different legal requirements and audiences.
Common mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Copying terms from another site | Adapt to your product, sector and Irish law |
| Trying to exclude statutory rights | You cannot contract out of the Consumer Rights Act 2022 |
| Shortening the cancellation right | Honour the 14 days, or it extends to 12 months |
| Pre-ticked acceptance box | Use an active, unticked checkbox at checkout |
| Burying the terms | Footer link on every page is the minimum |
Where to put your terms
Your terms must be accessible from every page, usually a footer link next to your privacy and cookie policies. For an online shop, the customer must be able to read and accept them before completing the purchase, through an unticked checkbox linking to the full text. Make them downloadable.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Irish website need terms and conditions?
Service-only sites are not legally required to have them. For online sales, the Consumer Rights Act 2022 and distance-selling rules require pre-contract information, and terms and conditions provide it.
Do I need a solicitor to write them?
Not strictly. For a small business a well-researched, Ireland-specific template works. For a high-revenue shop, a solicitor review is sensible.
Can I reuse a UK template?
Be careful. UK consumer law diverged after Brexit (Consumer Rights Act 2015). An Irish set should reference the Consumer Rights Act 2022 and Irish enforcement.
This article is technical analysis, not legal advice. Consult a solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
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