TITLE: Ireland's Government Publications Office Enacts Sixth European Union Restrictive Measures Concerning Ukraine Regulations
BODY:
On May 12, 2026, Ireland's Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, enacted the European Union (Restrictive Measures concerning Ukraine) (No. 6) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 211/2026). The statutory instrument implements five European Union Council Regulations concerning restrictive measures against Russia and related entities in response to the Ukraine conflict. The regulations were published in Iris Oifigiúil on May 19, 2026.
The regulations give effect to Council Regulation (EU) No. 208/2014, Council Regulation (EU) No. 269/2014, Council Regulation (EU) No. 692/2014, Council Regulation (EU) No. 833/2014, and Council Regulation (EU) 2022/263, as amended by numerous implementing regulations and Council amendments. The instrument incorporates 117 amending acts for the first regulation, 114 for the second, five for the third, 45 for the fourth, and five for the fifth, reflecting ongoing updates to the sanctions regime.
The regulations establish criminal offences for contravention of specified provisions within each Council Regulation. Penalties include, on summary conviction, a class A fine or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both; on conviction on indictment, fines up to €500,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both. Failure to comply with directions issued by competent authorities constitutes a separate offence, punishable by class A fine or imprisonment up to six months on summary conviction. Directors, managers, and officers of body corporates may be held personally liable for offences committed with their consent, connivance, or attributable to their neglect.
The regulations establish extraterritorial jurisdiction for offences committed outside Ireland by Irish citizens, subject to Director of Public Prosecutions consent. The European Union (Restrictive Measures concerning Ukraine) (No. 5) Regulations 2026 (S.I. No. 180 of 2026) are revoked and replaced by this instrument.