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Opening remarks at Financial Stability Review press conference – Governor Gabriel Makhlouf

Good morning and welcome to the launch of our first Financial Stability Review of 2026 . During 2026, risks facing the domestic financial system from the global environment have intensified. In 2025, the origin of external risks related primarily to swings in global trade policy. This year, the origin relates to the pricing, and the sustainability of global energy supplies, following the start of the war in the Middle East. This shock, coming less than a year after the previous trade shock, a...

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Global risks to Irish financial system have intensified - Central Bank of Ireland’s Financial Stability Review

Risks to Ireland's financial system from the global environment have intensified, Central Bank of Ireland has said today. The Financial Stability Review , published today, assesses the risks to and resilience of the Irish financial system. A persistent global energy supply shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, the risk of a correction in financial markets, potentially amplified by financial vulnerabilities in parts of the global non-bank sector, and increasing cyber risks could ...

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Finance in transition: the Central Bank’s approach to tokenised finance – Speech by Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros

1 We are at the early stages of a potential technological rewiring of finance. Fast-forward ten or twenty years, and it seems likely that the use of shared, programmable ledgers – and the tokenisation of financial assets – will have become embedded across the financial system. Today, we stand at a juncture. The question is less whether the technology will transform finance. Rather, it is how we collectively shape this ongoing transition, so that the potential of tokenised finance is realised,...

AI Analysis

The Deputy Governor’s speech sets out the Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) emerging regulatory stance on tokenised finance and distributed ledger technology (DLT), framing it as a structural transition rather than a niche innovation. While it does not introduce new binding rules, it clearly signals supervisory expectations, impending policy development (including follow‑up to the March 2026 Discussion Paper on tokenisation and DLT), and the need for regulated firms to integrate tokenisation risks, governance and operational resilience into existing regulatory frameworks.

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original CBI source before acting. Full disclaimer.

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A Modern Code for a Modernising Movement - Speech by Deputy Governor Colm Kincaid at ILCU

Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. It is great to see the energy and commitment to the credit union movement evident here today and reflected in your agenda for today’s conference. 1 Today’s event is especially timely, coming not long since Minister Troy’s announcement in April of the Credit Union Strategy Project, which provides an opportunity to future proof the credit union sector to overcome challenges and meet opportunities. The Central Bank welcomes ...

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Central Bank announces appointment of new Director of Finance and Business Performance

The Central Bank has today (15 May 2025) announced the appointment of Glenn Calverley to the role of Director of Finance and Business Performance. Mr Calverley will take up his role with effect from 1 September 2026. Glenn brings a wealth of experience to this role, most recently as Director of Strategy & Governance, a role he has held since 2021. He joined the Central Bank in 2015, initially as Head of Organisational Risk and later as Head of Strategy & Foresight. Prior to joining the Centra...

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Central Bank publishes T.K. Whitaker’s memoir

Central Bank of Ireland has made the memoir of former Governor T.K. Whitaker available digitally for the first time. While the memoir has been available for in-person viewing in the Central Bank's archives, it is now accessible online at www.centralbank.ie , allowing a wider audience to engage with this important historical document. The publication of T.K. Whitaker's Memoir : Central Bank and Government, 1969-1976 marks 110 years since T.K. Whitaker’s birth and 50 years since the end of his ...

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“Capital, Competition, and Complexity – regulatory perspectives on the regulatory debate” – Remarks by Deputy Governor Mary-Elizabeth McMunn

Introduction Good morning – I am delighted to be here, and many thanks to Brian and the BPFI for hosting us. 1 I very much look forward to the discussion, and to hearing from you all today, but before I do I would like to set out some reflections on a number of topics which are currently high on the regulatory agenda. While the discussion is multifaceted, and tied up with a regulatory cycle which has turned, an economic one which has become more challenging, not to mention a renewed focus by ...

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Central Bank publishes research on the Irish lending market and reinforces importance of capital and resilience

Central Bank loan-level research shows the Irish lending market is significantly less concentrated when considering the full diversity of lenders. Robust capital and liquidity positions have served the sector well – with the evidence not supporting a lowering of overall levels of resilience on the basis of bank credit, profitability or international competitiveness. Central Banks best serve these broader objectives related to productivity and growth by delivering on their core mandates, effec...

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From Washington to Frankfurt via Dublin: policy priorities in an uncertain world

I was in Washington for the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) two weeks ago and this week I was in Frankfurt at the latest meeting of the ECB Governing Council, to decide interest rates to achieve our price stability target of 2 per cent inflation over the medium term. I wanted to use this blog to offer some reflections on both meetings. Inevitably the war in the Middle East cast a shadow over both meetings. Uncertainty about the global outlook dominated the discourse: ...

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Remarks by Director of Horizontal Supervision, Patricia Dunne to the European Anti-Financial Crime Summit, Dublin

Safeguarding Financial Integrity – Central Bank of Ireland’s Approach to Financial Crime Prevention Thank you for the invitation to speak at today’s event. This is an important opportunity for us to engage and share our experiences and approaches to deal with the global challenges and issues we are facing in financial crime. Change, instability, flux, unpredictability - all words that I guarantee you will hear on multiple occasions throughout the day’s events. I will not be any different. We ...

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Vigilance and Resilience - Strengthening Credit Unions in a Changing Landscape - Remarks by Domhnall Cullinan at ILCU Annual Conference

Good morning. Brendan, thank you for the warm introduction. It is a pleasure to join you at the ILCU Internal Audit Services Conference. I also want to thank Barry Harrington for the invitation to address you here today. 1 When I addressed the ILCU Annual Conference last April, I spoke about a time of transformative change for credit unions, a period that would bring both significant opportunities and important challenges. 2 One year on, we can see that transformation taking shape. A revised ...

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New Central Bank research reveals one in three Irish adults have experienced fraud, yet 38% never report it

More than one in three Irish adults (35%) have experienced fraud or scams. 38% of fraud victims never reported their experience to their financial service provider or any authority. Research identified risky online behaviours as the single strongest predictor of fraud experience—more influential than age, income, or education level. Fraud victims are far more likely to recover monies when the fraud is reported. Fraud literacy reduces predicted fraud exposure Central Bank of Ireland of Ireland...

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Future-proofing Europe’s financial system

In his latest blog, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf argues that central banks must modernise their digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to ensure that central bank money remains the stable foundation of Europe's financial system whilst enabling private sector innovation in a digitally transformed ecosystem.

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Bridge to the Future: Mobilising Europe's Savings in a Fragmenting World - Speech by Governor Gabriel Makhlouf at Eurofi

In his remarks, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf emphasised that Europe must mobilise its substantial savings by strengthening economic growth, completing the Single Market, and building more integrated capital markets, as capital currently flows abroad due to perceived higher returns elsewhere. He argued that central banks must anchor price stability and financial stability as preconditions for effective capital allocation, and that by addressing these fundamentals, European savings will naturally ...

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Remarks by Deputy Governor Colm Kincaid to Central Bank of Ireland’s Consumer Protection Workshop – Consumer Protection at the Heart of Our Mission

Good afternoon and welcome to this Central Bank of Ireland workshop on the Consumer Protection Code. Today I will focus on the outlook for consumers and investors. But first let me pause to talk a little about the broader context in which we find ourselves. We are living through a period marked by extraordinary change, geopolitical instability, rapid technological transformation and shifting economic conditions. Governor Makhlouf summarised this well when he said how 2026 has already seen ext...

AI Analysis

Deputy Governor Colm Kincaid's speech on 24 March 2026 emphasizes consumer protection as central to the Central Bank of Ireland's (CBI) mission amid geopolitical, technological, and economic changes, highlighting the revised **Consumer Protection Code 2025** (CPC 2025) as a key modernization effort. This matters for compliance professionals because the CPC 2025 introduces enhanced, digitally-focused protections effective **24 March 2026**, replacing the 2012 Code after a 12-month implementation period, with firms required to proactively secure customer interests.

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original CBI source before acting. Full disclaimer.

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“Regulating with purpose – outcomes-focused regulation and supervision, a practitioner’s perspective” – Remarks by Deputy Governor McMunn at Outcomes-focused Regulation in Financial Services conference, University College Dublin (UCD)

Good morning everyone, I am delighted to be here for what looks set to be an interesting conference on a topic which is both very close to my heart and central to what we do at Central Bank of Ireland (“the Central Bank”) – as we work to deliver on our mission, and in particular ensuring the financial system is operating in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy. 1 I am particularly delighted to be back in UCD – where I had the pleasure to study economics as an undergraduate, w...

AI Analysis

This speech by Deputy Governor Mary Elizabeth McMunn outlines the Central Bank of Ireland's (CBI) shift toward **outcomes-focused regulation and supervision**, emphasizing five key priorities from the 2026 Regulatory and Supervisory Outlook (RSO) to address geopolitical risks, consumer protection, technology, and resilience in a volatile environment. It matters for compliance professionals as it signals intensified CBI scrutiny on firm behaviors and outcomes rather than mere rule compliance, with direct implications for supervisory engagements, thematic reviews, and enforcement across banking, funds, insurance, and payments sectors.

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original CBI source before acting. Full disclaimer.

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🇮🇪 CBI Consultation medium

Central Bank of Ireland Launches Discussion Paper on Tokenisation and Distributed Ledger Technology in Financial Services

Central Bank of Ireland today published a Discussion Paper examining the potential role of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and tokenisation in the financial system . Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros, commenting on the publication, said: “Distributed ledger technology and tokenisation have the potential to transform how financial services are delivered. We believe this technology, if enabled and deployed correctly, can change the financial system for the better, including by helping the ...

AI Analysis

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has launched Discussion Paper 12 (DP12) on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and tokenisation in financial services to explore their transformative potential in areas like markets, funds, payments, and money, while assessing opportunities, risks, and enablers such as legal clarity and interoperability. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals CBI's proactive stance on integrating these technologies into a resilient financial system, aligning with EU ambitions like the Savings and Investment Union, and invites stakeholder input to shape future policy without proposing immediate rules. (Source: https://www.centralbank.ie/news/article/press-release-discussion-paper-tokenisation-and-distributed-ledger-technology-in-financial-services-5-march-26 [publication]; https://www.arthurcox.com/insights/central-bank-issues-discussion-paper-on-dlt-tokenisation-in-financial-services/ )

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original CBI source before acting. Full disclaimer.

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Central Bank welcomes publication of OECD Consumer Finance Risk Monitor

New OECD report highlights financial scams as top threat to consumers globally Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland Colm Kincaid welcomed the publication of the OECD’s Consumer Finance Risk Monitor 2026 , a comprehensive global assessment examining consumer protection challenges across 60 international jurisdictions. Deputy Governor Kincaid emphasised the need for strengthened oversight as structural economic, technological and market-conduct risks converge to significantly elevate ...

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Central Bank sets out its regulatory and supervisory priorities against the backdrop of geoeconomic shifts and accelerating technological changes that are reshaping the financial system

The Central Bank has today published its Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook 2026 , which sets out its latest assessment of the risk landscape facing the financial sector and the supervisory work it will undertake in response. This follows on from the Governor’s letter to the Tánaiste on the economic outlook and regulatory priorities in January . This is the third year of the report, which continues to be set against a backdrop of a changing, uncertain and increasingly complex external environme...

AI Analysis

The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) has published its **Regulatory & Supervisory Outlook 2026**, outlining priorities shaped by geoeconomic fragmentation, technological acceleration, and elevated risks like operational resilience, cyber threats, data/AI, and consumer protection. This matters for compliance professionals as it signals intensified supervisory scrutiny, including desktop and onsite inspections, across Ireland's financial sector to ensure resilience and adaptability amid uncertainties.[https://www.centralbank.ie/news/article/press-release-central-bank-sets-out-its-regulatory-and-supervisory-priorities-26-february-2026][https://www.ogier.com/news-and-insights/insights/regulatory-outlook-2026-the-central-bank-of-ireland-s-priorities-explained/]

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original CBI source before acting. Full disclaimer.

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The role of economics during times of major change

In his latest blog, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf argues that economists must adapt their analytical frameworks and expand their focus beyond traditional topics to address emerging challenges—such as geopolitical upheaval and defence spending—in order to provide robust evidence-based policy advice that serves the public interest.

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Central Bank of Ireland and Banca d’Italia launch first joint Innovation Data Challenge

Central Bank of Ireland and Banca d’Italia are launching the Innovation Data Challenge 2026, a joint initiative designed to foster cutting-edge research and innovation in the retail payments sector. The Challenge reflects the shared commitment of the two Institutions to promoting applied research, international collaboration, and the responsible use of data and technology to shape the future of payments. The initiative brings together leading Irish and Italian universities, including Universi...

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The Digital Euro: shaping the future while preserving trust

In this blog, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf writes about the development of the Digital Euro and how central banks foster trust and safety in the financial system and in the implementation of projects like the Digital Euro.

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🇮🇪 CBI Speech medium

The tangle of ageing populations and productivity growth - Governor Gabriel Makhlouf at Society of Professional Economists

Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland Gabriel Makhlouf today (25 November) addressed the UK Society of Professional Economists annual dinner . Speaking this evening, Governor Makhlouf said: “Europe is at a pivotal moment in its economic development. The tangle of ageing populations with weak productivity growth raise questions about the long-term growth outlook. The need to build economic resilience to both short-term shocks and longer-term transitions become self-evident by the day. Produc...

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Address by Director of Insurance Supervision, Domhnall Cullinan, to the Insurance Ireland-Milliman CRO Forum

I’d like to thank Insurance Ireland and Milliman for inviting me here today for this Chief Risk Officer (CRO) Forum. I’d like to use this opportunity to briefly reflect on the recent turmoil we’ve seen in the banking sector, what this might mean for (re)insurers, and to highlight some of our supervisory priorities going forward. Much commentary has already been devoted to the fallout from SVB and Signature Bank in the US, and to the acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS. Whilst the exposure of ...

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Insurance supervision in an uncertain environment - Remarks by Domhnall Cullinan, Director of Insurance Supervision, at Financial Services Ireland

Introduction Good morning everyone. Thank you for inviting me to speak here today. Before I begin, I’d like to acknowledge the important role played by Financial Services Ireland in advocating for its members, and in promoting the Irish financial services sector, both here and abroad. Whilst the respective missions we undertake are undoubtedly different, we have a shared interest in a strong and stable financial services sector. It is claimed that the phrase “may you live in interesting times...

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“Regulated firms must prioritise diversity at senior levels to prevent groupthink, promote internal challenge, and protect consumers and investors” - Derville Rowland, Director General, Financial Conduct

Gender diversity at senior levels in the regulated financial services sector is increasing but remains insufficient, according to the latest Central Bank of Ireland Demographic Analysis Report . The annual publication analyses applications to hold certain senior roles within regulated firms that require the Central Bank’s prior approval under the Fitness & Probity Regime. The Central Bank received more than 3,500 such applications for Pre-Approval Control Function (PCF) roles in 2021. This is...

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Supervisory Priorities in Uncertain Times - Domhnall Cullinan, Director of Insurance Supervision

Introduction Good morning, and thank you for attending our Insurance Industry Event, the second of these which we’ve held virtually. Hopefully, as the vaccine rollout continues and restrictions are eased, there won’t have to be a third! The COVID 19 crisis has brought about a significant amount of change to all of our personal and professional lives, and with it has provided the opportunity to reflect on what is important, and where our priorities should lie. With this in mind, I would like t...

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Opening remarks at the 2020 Insurance Industry Briefing - Domhnall Cullinan, Director of Insurance Supervision

Opening remarks at the 2020 Insurance Industry Briefing Good morning everyone. I would like to thank you for attending today’s industry briefing. In my remarks this morning, I will take this opportunity to touch on: the role that insurance can play in society; some of the reasons why the industry in Ireland is negatively perceived; and the areas of supervisory focus for the Central Bank moving forward. 2020 has been an unprecedented year in so many respects and the emergence of COVID-19 has a...

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Introductory statement by Derville Rowland, Director General, Financial Conduct, at the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

I am joined today by Gráinne McEvoy, Director of Consumer Protection, and Domhnall Cullinan, Director of Insurance Supervision. Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you today about the Central Bank’s work in regulating and supervising the Irish insurance industry and specifically the practices of differential pricing and dual pricing. Insurance serves a critical role in the functioning of a modern society, through reducing uncertainty by protecting people and businesses against the risk...

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