Now official IAA policy. UK PPL exams will not be accepted if applying for EASA PPL or PPL(M) in Ireland. Check IAA website. (Please dont shoot the messenger)

Could you provide a link?

From the FAQs:
"Q.5. Will the IAA accept my PART-FCL exams if I complete them in another EASA Member State?
A. The IAA will accept a full set of exams completed in one member state."

From "Foreign Exams":
"A complete set of EASA PPL examinations carried out under the direct control of another EU Member State may be acceptable towards the issue of an EASA PPL licence subject to satisfactory verification.
Please note that it is not possible to get satisfactory verification from some states. Therefore, sitting of foreign exams is not recommended as their acceptance may not be possible.
Foreign theory exams may not be used to support an application for a national licence."

The critical bit seems to be:
The implication being that the IAA is unable to get satisfactory verification from the UK CAA as they do not administer the examinations. Nevertheless, I can find nothing on the IAA website specific to the UK exams.

Surely, the Verification comes from the ATO/DTO/RF in the form of a Completion Certificate and a copy of the Approval or Registratgion Document showing compliance with the Regulation?

Bb. That is EXACTLY the stance being adopted, notwithstanding that they have managed to issue umpteen PPL(A)(H)and(M) licences on the basis of such UK exams until just now. Maybe something to do with their dislike of brexit???

Whopity. Won't accept any of those things plus copy of Examiners authorisation as being sufficient verification.

More than likely something to do with the UK CAA not having sufficient suitable personnel to deal with the request for confirmation from the IAA in a timely manner.

A shame, as the Irish PPL system is so inflexible - set dates, central location etc.

Precisely. It does not come from the Authority which is, presumably, why the IAA don't like it. So long as the UK CAA fails to provide any meaningful oversight of the administration of PPL exams, this will remain a problem and will only go away once the current system is replaced by computer-based examinations administered by the Authority.

TBH, having seen the way some organisations treat the current system, I have a sneaking sympathy for the IAA's position.

In common with most other EASA states.