In an Irish registered aircraft, you need an IR to be able to fly under VFR, even in VMC.
Do you mean, perhaps, that an instrument rating is required to fly under IFR, even in visual conditions?
If so, it's no different in the US.
Yes.
I point that out because the poster's location is given as Dublin. I pointed out that you needed to fly under IFR above FL195 in most of Europe, even though it's class C.
Most posters here are from the UK, and will be familiar with the idea of being able to fly under IFR in VMC without an IR, and I simply wanted to point out (before someone confused it with the UK rules) that that option isn't available in an Irish registered aircraft anywhere, nor any other registered aircraft over the Irish state.
dp