The provision of investment services or investment advice requires either (i) authorisation in Ireland, which normally requires that the entity be incorporated or be a partnership or a sole trader, in each case with a head/registered office in Ireland (authorisation may not be required in certain cases, e.g. where a third country service provider has no commercial presence in Ireland and the service is not provided to private individuals); or (ii) authorisation in another Member State in accordance with the EC Investment Services Directive.