---
title: "Cookie consent rules for Irish websites"
description: "What Irish websites must do before setting non-essential cookies: prior consent, easy refusal, and a record of the choice."
canonical: "https://fohrkast.com/guides/cookie-consent-ireland"
group: "Guides"
updated: "2026-06-28"
---
# Cookie consent rules for Irish websites

If your website uses analytics, advertising, or embedded media, Irish law requires you to ask first. Consent has to be given before the cookie is set, it has to be as easy to refuse as to accept, and you need to be able to show what the visitor chose.

## Consent comes before the cookie

Under the ePrivacy Regulations (S.I. No. 336 of 2011) read with the GDPR, non-essential cookies and similar technologies may only be placed after the user has given consent. Strictly necessary cookies, the ones a site needs to function, are exempt. Everything else, including analytics and marketing tags, must stay inactive until the visitor agrees.

## Refusing must be as easy as accepting

The Data Protection Commission expects a clear way to reject non-essential cookies at the same level as accepting them. Pre-ticked boxes, consent walls that force acceptance, and banners with only an accept button do not meet the standard. Consent must be specific, informed, and freely given.

## Keep a record of the choice

Because consent is the lawful basis, you should be able to demonstrate it. That means logging what was presented, what the visitor chose, and when, and re-asking when your cookie policy materially changes.

## How a compliant banner behaves

A well-configured setup blocks non-essential scripts by default, presents clear categories, records the decision, and lets the visitor change their mind later. Fohrkast Shield does this from a single embed for the trackers it detects, and a free scan helps you see where your current site stands.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do I need consent for Google Analytics in Ireland?**
Yes. Analytics cookies are non-essential, so they require prior consent before they load.

**Is an accept-only cookie banner allowed?**
No. The Data Protection Commission expects refusing non-essential cookies to be as easy as accepting them.

## Citations

- ePrivacy Regulations (Ireland): S.I. No. 336 of 2011
- GDPR consent standard: Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Articles 4(11) and 7
- DPC guidance on cookies: dataprotection.ie, cookies and similar technologies

## About Fohrkast

Fohrkast is an automated cookie-consent scanner and widget builder that detects trackers on your site, helps you block non-essential scripts by default, and generates a record of visitor choices. A free scan shows where your current site stands and generates a consent banner that aligns with GDPR and ePrivacy law.

---

Source: https://fohrkast.com/guides/cookie-consent-ireland
This is automated readiness information, not legal advice or a guarantee of conformance. Last reviewed 2026-06-28.