Financial Regulatory

Statutory instruments creating the Irish framework of the European Single Access Point (ESAP) have been signed into law. The ESAP is an EU-wide data portal which is a centralised free source of public information about EU companies and investment products.

The Central Bank of Ireland should explain it wants the Irish government to underwrite contributions to an IMF fund for low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries, an Oireachtas committee has said. The Oireachtas joint committee on finance, public expenditure, public service reform and digita

Gabriel Makhlouf is set to continue as Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland for a further seven-year term. Mr Makhlouf took up the position on 1 September 2019 and will began his second term on 1 September 2026.

A new Motor Insurance Transparency Code has been published in a bid to improve how insurance premiums are presented to consumers. The code has been developed by a working group comprising insurers and intermediaries, with the support of the Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland, and

Bank of Ireland UK has been fined more than £3.7 million for failing to implement UK anti-fraud rules by the required deadline.

Matheson's Joe Beashel, Ian O'Mara and Kevin Burns examine the law on stablecoins across Europe, including in Ireland. Stablecoins have become increasingly central to the crypto-asset ecosystem, serving as a bridge between traditional fiat currencies and digital assets. Initially used primarily for

A blueprint for a new "simplified, tax-efficient investment vehicle for Irish consumers" is being developed by Ireland's financial services industry body. The initiative was announced as Financial Services Ireland (FSI), the Ibec group representing the financial services industry in Ireland, publish

Legislation maintaining an appeals mechanism for SMEs and farmers denied bank credit has been signed into law. The Credit Review Act 2026 provides a stand-alone legal basis for the credit review service established under the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009.

William Fry partners Ruairi Rynn, Fergus Doorly and Gerard James examine a High Court ruling confirming that arbitration clauses do not block winding-up petitions absent a genuine dispute on the debt. In a previous article, we explored the tension between arbitration clauses and insolvency proceedin

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has recruited Louise Dobbyn as a partner in its financial service regulation practice in Dublin. Ms Dobbyn joins the firm from Matheson and brings significant experience advising international financial institutions including banks, investment firms, fund

Ann Lalor has been appointed as group general counsel at Bank of Ireland. Ms Lalor will join Bank of Ireland in 2026 from multinational law firm Pinsent Masons, where she is currently partner and head of the Dublin office.

The former CEO of RSA Insurance Ireland has been disqualified for 13 years by the Central Bank of Ireland for his admitted participation in a breach of financial services law. Philip Smith, who served as CEO and executive director of RSA Insurance Ireland DAC (RSAII) from 2009 to 2013, was this mont

The Central Bank of Ireland has set out plans to deliver a more effective and efficient regulatory and supervisory framework. The new roadmap outlines the institution's work across four pillars: supervision, regulation, gatekeeping, and reporting and data.

The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a public consultation on the implementation of new access to cash legislation. The public consultation covers two parts of the new regime under the Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025.

Karen O'Leary has been appointed as director of enforcement in the Central Bank of Ireland with effect from the new year. Ms O'Leary brings an extensive breadth of experience to the role, most recently as the Central Bank's director of currency, workplace and regulatory services.