IntroductionUnannounced inspections by authorities, known as ‘dawn raids’, can disrupt operations, expose businesses and individuals to serious legal consequences, and have the potential to reshape entire industries. Dawn raids can occur at any time and at any place but are typically conducted at business premises, at private residences (of directors or other employees) and vehicles. Dawn raids are a powerful tool used by competition regulators to enter premises pursuant to a search warrant, if necessary, by force, and to inspect and seize books, documents, electronic records and other critical evidence of suspected violations.In Ireland, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) are responsible for enforcing competition law at the national level, while the European Commission tends to conduct dawn raids across European Union (EU) Member States, either unilaterally or in tandem with national competition authorities (NCAs) when suspected violations affect multiple jurisdictions. This note will refer to the EU position where the legal framework diverges from the Irish position and will reference the relevant