Writing in Fortune on 16 November, Garrett Doyle—head of Western U.S. operations for IDA Ireland—reveals that more than 40 American firms have opened or expanded Irish hubs in 2025, a 15 % year-on-year increase. The inflow spans biopharma, semiconductors and AI-centric data-analytics companies and is accelerating as U.S. tax and immigration policies grow less predictable under the 2026 election cycle.
Doyle highlights three pull-factors. First is Ireland’s 12.5 % headline corporate-tax rate, which managers still view as competitive even after OECD reforms. Second is the English-speaking talent pool: over 600,000 non-Irish nationals now live in the country, and 72 % of 25- to 34-year-olds hold tertiary degrees. Third is the EU-wide right of residence: a single Irish work authorisation allows intra-company transfers to rotate staff across 27 member states under the ICT Directive, reducing red tape.
![IDA Ireland says U.S. policy jitters are driving fresh wave of corporate moves to Dublin]()
Recent projects include an Arizona semiconductor firm that chose Limerick for a €550 million back-end packaging plant, accompanied by 120 critical-skills permit holders and their families, and a California fintech that shifted its European HQ from Amsterdam to Dublin to retain access to English-language regulatory dialogue after Brexit. IDA figures show that each green-field project generates an average of 1.8 accompanying dependants, underscoring the link between FDI strategy and mobility planning.
For global-mobility managers, the article underscores the need to secure Irish employment permits early: processing times for Critical Skills and General permits currently average seven and nine weeks respectively. Housing shortages in Dublin and Cork also mean relocation packages must include temporary accommodation budgets of €4,000-€5,000 a month while families search for long-term leases.
Strategically, Ireland is positioning itself as a hedge against U.S. political volatility, offering stable EU market access with flexible immigration pathways. HR leaders should monitor forthcoming increases in salary thresholds (expected January 2026) and the Government’s plan to roll out a single work-and-residence permit, which will further simplify transfers but could tighten labour-market tests.
Doyle highlights three pull-factors. First is Ireland’s 12.5 % headline corporate-tax rate, which managers still view as competitive even after OECD reforms. Second is the English-speaking talent pool: over 600,000 non-Irish nationals now live in the country, and 72 % of 25- to 34-year-olds hold tertiary degrees. Third is the EU-wide right of residence: a single Irish work authorisation allows intra-company transfers to rotate staff across 27 member states under the ICT Directive, reducing red tape.
Recent projects include an Arizona semiconductor firm that chose Limerick for a €550 million back-end packaging plant, accompanied by 120 critical-skills permit holders and their families, and a California fintech that shifted its European HQ from Amsterdam to Dublin to retain access to English-language regulatory dialogue after Brexit. IDA figures show that each green-field project generates an average of 1.8 accompanying dependants, underscoring the link between FDI strategy and mobility planning.
For global-mobility managers, the article underscores the need to secure Irish employment permits early: processing times for Critical Skills and General permits currently average seven and nine weeks respectively. Housing shortages in Dublin and Cork also mean relocation packages must include temporary accommodation budgets of €4,000-€5,000 a month while families search for long-term leases.
Strategically, Ireland is positioning itself as a hedge against U.S. political volatility, offering stable EU market access with flexible immigration pathways. HR leaders should monitor forthcoming increases in salary thresholds (expected January 2026) and the Government’s plan to roll out a single work-and-residence permit, which will further simplify transfers but could tighten labour-market tests.
