Seána Cunningham delivers her opening remarks at the UNEP Global Sustainable Insurance Summit in Dublin.
Why this matters
This is a speech by the Central Bank of Ireland's Director of Insurance at an international summit. It articulates regulatory expectations around climate risk, insurance market resilience, and adaptation finance.
Central Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf today (Friday 18 September) spoke at The Future of Finance Conference held in Dublin. Governor Makhlouf opened the conference with a focus on trust “At the Central Bank of Ireland, our work on the payments system is an important part of our economic, policy and…
Why this matters
This is a high-level policy speech by the CBI Governor outlining three core policy pillars (infrastructure modernisation, resilience requirements, and responsible innovation) for the future payments system.
Good morning, and welcome to our conference on “Trust and Innovation: The Future of Finance”. This morning’s event takes place on the sidelines of the Informal ECOFIN – an occasion that brings together many of Europe’s most experienced economic policy makers to discuss pressing questions. And payments, I would argue…
Why this matters
This is a high-level policy speech from the Central Bank of Ireland Governor delivered at an Informal ECOFIN conference. It outlines the CBI's strategic framework for payments regulation and innovation, emphasizing the two-tier architecture of money (public and private), the role of central bank digital currency, and...
Good evening. I know you’ve already been here for a couple of days but it’s a pleasure to extend my own – slightly delayed – welcome to all visitors to Dublin. Today you have covered Basel divergence, the Banking Union, the Savings and Investments Union, stablecoins and banking competitiveness. You have certainly…
Why this matters
This is a high-level policy speech by the Central Bank of Ireland Governor addressing the Eurofi Financial Forum. It contains noteworthy regulatory signals on key structural issues (Banking Union completion, cross-border banking fragmentation, capital requirements simplification, and digital payments infrastructure)...
Central Bank of Ireland Governor Gabriel Makhlouf today (Thursday 17 September) spoke at the Eurofi Financial Forum held in Dublin, where he said Europe needs to move faster on the completion of the Single Market. Governor Makhlouf said: “We need to create One Single Market – in goods, services, and capital…
Why this matters
This is a speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland at a financial forum, presenting policy views rather than announcing binding obligations or enforcement actions.
Modified domestic demand (MDD) growth is being revised up modestly in 2026 to 3.8 per cent and to 3.4 per cent in 2027, supported by resilient consumer spending and multinational investment Headline inflation is projected to average 3.4 per cent in 2026, moderating to 3.1 per cent in 2027 and 2.0 per cent in 2028…
Why this matters
The content is a Central Bank quarterly economic bulletin and press release containing macroeconomic projections (growth, inflation, employment, housing), structural economic analysis, and high-level policy commentary.
Good morning, I am delighted to be here and many thanks to Andrea for the invitation. 1 I very much look forward to the discussion and to hearing from you, but first of all I would like to set the scene with some perspectives on the environment we are operating in. Last month I set out my views on some of the key…
Why this matters
Deputy Governor McMunn's speech addresses governance and delegation practices in Irish fund management companies, with focus on operational resilience, AI governance, and supervisory expectations.
Central Bank of Ireland has today (13 July) published the annual letter from Governor Gabriel Makhlouf to the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance ahead of Budget 2027. In his letter, the Governor underscores the importance of building economic resilience in the face of heightened global uncertainty and structural…
Why this matters
Governor's pre-budget letter addresses macroeconomic policy and fiscal framework rather than firm-specific regulation. Content focuses on economy-wide resilience, tax revenue sustainability, and public investment priorities.
Good morning everyone. I am delighted to be joined this morning by the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance for the launch of a commemorative circulating coin to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The coin will circulate across the euro area, reflecting our place at the heart of Europe and…
Why this matters
This is an informational speech by the Central Bank of Ireland Governor announcing the launch of a commemorative €2 circulating coin to mark Ireland's EU Council Presidency.
In the summer of 2012, with bond markets pricing in a chance of a euro breakup, Mario Draghi pledged to do “whatever it takes” to preserve the currency union. It worked: spreads fell, though the programme behind the pledge, Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT), was never used. Despite having no formal relationship…
Why this matters
Speech by ECB Governor on fiscal-monetary policy coordination and price stability in the eurozone. Addresses sovereign market disruptions, fiscal commitments, and central bank credibility.
Central Bank of Ireland has today launched a new map showing the location of every ATM and cash service points in the country. The public can now also notify the Central Bank if they believe there is insufficient access to cash in their community. From today (Tuesday 30 June 2026), the public can submit a local…
Why this matters
This is an informational press release announcing implementation of cash access legislation. The Central Bank of Ireland is establishing a framework to monitor and ensure adequate ATM and cash service point infrastructure.
Good morning. It is a pleasure to welcome you this morning to the Central Bank of Ireland and to the tenth annual Macroprudential Conference, organised jointly with the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Nederlandsche Bank, and the Sveriges Riksbank. Let me begin by thanking the scientific committee for bringing together such a…
Why this matters
This is an opening speech at the 10th Annual Macroprudential Conference by the Central Bank of Ireland Governor. It is informational/educational content discussing macroprudential policy frameworks, financial system resilience, and emerging risks including non-bank finance, cross-border payments, stablecoins, and...
Good regulation matters. It matters for consumers and for investors. It matters for firms and the wider economy, and for resilience and the stability of the financial system. In the Central Bank, regulation is central to how we deliver our safeguarding outcomes: protecting consumers and investors, maintaining…
Why this matters
This is a speech announcing the Central Bank of Ireland's consultation on Regulatory Impact Assessment and stakeholder consultation approaches. It is informational/strategic in nature, outlining the regulator's commitment to evidence-based policymaking and continuous improvement across the financial system.
Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to speak today. Last week, the ECB’s Governing Council decided to raise interest rates by 0.25%. This is the first change since June 2025 – the first increase since 2023 – and brings the main policy rate, the Deposit Facility Rate, to 2.25%. Our decision is a response to…
Why this matters
This is an informational speech by ECB Governor on monetary policy decisions and economic outlook. Primary focus is on interest rate increase (0.25%) in response to inflation pressures from Middle East conflict energy shocks.
Introduction Good morning, I am delighted to be here and many thanks to Patricia at FSI for the invitation. 1 You have a busy agenda today, discussing some of the key issues currently facing the financial sector and financial regulators. As the title of this conference suggests, we are living through a time of…
Why this matters
Deputy Governor speech outlining CBI's regulatory philosophy on international financial services, gatekeeping processes, and simplification agenda. Addresses authorisation standards, subsidiary governance expectations, and supervisory approach across banking, asset management, and payments sectors.
Deputy Governor McMunn's speech to IOB Funds and Asset Management Forum on 8 June 2026.
Why this matters
Deputy Governor McMunn's speech addresses the Irish funds sector's evolution amid geopolitical and technological change. Key focus areas include resilience frameworks (liquidity management, governance stress-testing), AI and tokenisation adoption with proper governance, and regulatory adaptation.
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…
Why this matters
Governor's speech on Financial Stability Review highlighting elevated external risks (geopolitical tensions, energy shocks, AI valuations, private credit concerns) and domestic resilience measures.
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…
Why this matters
Central Bank of Ireland's Financial Stability Review assesses systemic risks to the Irish financial system. Key concerns include energy supply shocks, AI sector valuations funded by debt, cyber risks, and the need for strong capital buffers and operational resilience.
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…
Why this matters
Deputy Governor speech announcing modernised Consumer Protection Code application to credit unions, digital transformation requirements, and financial literacy initiatives. Informational in nature with forward-looking regulatory guidance on implementation timelines and support mechanisms.
Governor of Central Bank of Ireland Gabriel Makhlouf today (Tuesday 19 th May) spoke at the AFME Annual European Financial Integration conference , where he called for a more ambitious approach to Europe’s Single Market, arguing that greater integration in goods, services and capital is essential to enhance European…
Why this matters
Speech by CBI Governor on European Single Market integration and capital markets development. Addresses regulatory architecture completion, supervisory convergence, and national implementation frameworks. Informational content setting policy direction rather than announcing binding regulatory changes.
Thank you for the invitation to speak this afternoon. I want to talk about the Single Market, which is one of Europe's greatest political and economic achievements. Over more than three decades, it has been an engine of European growth and resilience, delivering scale, opportunity, and tangible benefits for citizens…
Why this matters
Informational speech by CBI Governor on European Single Market integration, capital markets fragmentation, and regulatory harmonization. Addresses structural barriers to cross-border financial services, safe asset creation, and supervisory convergence.
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…
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…
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…
A financial stability assessment of Irish hedge funds concludes that the diversity of the sector, and its modest market footprint, limit systemic vulnerabilities. A separate assessment focused on open-ended funds shows that the availability of tools to manage liquidity is now widespread, but with further scope to…
Why this matters
The regulatory update covers financial stability assessments of the non-bank sector, specifically hedge funds and open-ended funds. This is relevant for investment management firms and banks that operate in these areas. The key topics covered are prudential requirements and operational resilience.
Good morning. I am delighted to join you here this morning – and thank you to Irish Funds for organising this event. 1 As you know, a key part of our job at the Central Bank of Ireland is to focus on ‘tail risks’. Not just what we expect will happen, but what could happen. And the range of possible outcomes that could…
Why this matters
The speech discusses regulatory oversight and resilience of the non-bank finance sector, particularly asset managers and hedge funds. It covers implementation of liquidity management tools and surveillance of vulnerabilities in the hedge fund sector, which are relevant for investment management and capital markets...
Good morning. Ongoing events in the Middle East are a stark reminder of the challenges policy makers face in a world increasingly characterised by geoeconomic fragmentation. For central banks tasked with preserving price stability, supply shocks pose both analytical and strategic challenges: understanding their…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the impact of geopolitical shocks on the economy, inflation, and monetary policy in the Eurozone.
Good morning and welcome to Central Bank of Ireland. Thank you for joining us for this inaugural gathering of the Savings and Investment Forum. I want to extend a particular welcome to the Tánaiste. Today marks an important milestone. The Department of Finance's 2024 Funds Review recognised the importance of enabling…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland covers topics related to increasing retail investor participation in capital markets, including the availability of suitable investment products, financial education and advice for retail investors, and consumer protection frameworks.
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…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the need to mobilize Europe's savings to support investment and economic growth. It covers topics related to capital markets, financial stability, and the role of central banks and regulators in creating the conditions for productive investment.
Role of Non-Bank Entities in the Irish Housing Market regarding residential mortgages Go raibh maith agat a Chathaoirligh agus gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht an cuireadh a bheith anseo inniú. I am joined by my colleagues Domhnall Cullinan, Director of Banking and Payments, and Aisling Menton, Head of Retail…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the role of non-bank entities in the Irish mortgage market, including their lending and servicing activities. It covers consumer protection measures, affordability requirements, and support for borrowers in arrears.
The Central Bank of Ireland has today (24 February) published its first quarterly Access to Cash report . The Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 has put in place a framework to ensure sufficient and effective access to cash across the State. Today’s report uses newly collected data to show…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the Central Bank of Ireland relates to access to cash infrastructure and requirements for banks and payment providers to ensure sufficient and effective access to cash across Ireland. It covers consumer protection and reporting obligations.
Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, today delivered a keynote address at the Blavatnik School of Government, outlining the critical role of central bank independence in delivering price stability and supporting economic prosperity for society. Speaking on “Institutions, Anchors, and Their…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the importance of central bank independence as an anchor for stability, rather than a shield.
Central Bank of Ireland Deputy Governor Vasileios Madouros spoke at Technological University Dublin on the need to increase domestic investment over the next decade to support Ireland’s long-term economic success. Looking back, Deputy Governor Madouros discussed how, despite very strong economic growth, investment in…
Why this matters
This speech from the Central Bank of Ireland Deputy Governor discusses the need for increased domestic investment in Ireland to support long-term economic success.
Over the course of the next decade, we will need to allocate more of our collective resources towards domestic investment. 1 In part, that is because of where we are coming from. Despite very strong economic growth in recent years, investment in key domestic sectors has been lacklustre. But it is also because of where…
Why this matters
This speech discusses the need for increased investment in Ireland, particularly in public infrastructure, housing, and domestic businesses. It outlines policy considerations around enabling sustainable investment, including fiscal policy, efficiency of investment delivery, fostering business dynamism, and ensuring...
The Central Bank of Ireland has set out its regulatory and supervisory priorities for 2026 and provided detailed advice to Government on building economic resilience in the face of unprecedented uncertainty. In his letter to the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf set out his…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the Central Bank of Ireland focuses on building economic resilience and outlines key priorities for the financial sector, including maintaining resilience to geopolitical risks, securing consumer interests, responding to technological changes, and addressing environmental transitions.
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…
Economics Winter Workshop 2025: Opening Remarks by Governor Gabriel Makhlouf
Why this matters
This speech by the CBI Governor covers topics relevant to banks, asset managers, and wealth managers, including prudential requirements, operational resilience, and ESG. As an informational speech, the urgency is low.
Good evening. Thank you for the invitation to join you today. This evening I want to talk about economic resilience, what it is and whether we have enough of it. I spoke about economic resilience in my first speech as Governor – 6 years ago – and wrote to the Minister for Finance about it in early February this year…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses economic resilience, which is relevant to the banking, investment management, and wealth management sectors.
Good morning and welcome everyone. I am delighted to address the eighth meeting of this Forum. When the Forum was established three years ago, the goal was to bring together participants from across Ireland to build a shared approach to understanding and managing the systemic risks that climate change poses, while…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the Forum's work on understanding and managing climate-related systemic risks, as well as supporting the transition to net zero.
Good morning everyone. 1 I am delighted to join you here today for this year’s Climate Finance week. “The scientific evidence that climate change is a serious and urgent issue is […] compelling.” “The benefits of strong, early action on climate change outweigh the costs.” And “the choices made in the next 10-20 years…
Why this matters
This speech discusses the macrofinancial effects of climate change in Ireland, including the progress and challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the relative costs of action versus inaction, the exposure to rising physical risks, and the management of climate-related risks by the financial sector.
At our meeting yesterday, the ECB’s Governing Council cut our three policy rates by 25 basis points (or, one quarter of a percent). The disinflation process remains on track, allowing us to reduce rates. However, with some components of inflation still too high for comfort – notably, services inflation – I continue to…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the ECB discusses interest rate changes, inflation, and economic growth, which are relevant for banking, investment management, and wealth management firms. The topics covered include prudential requirements, consumer protection, and reporting/disclosure.
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…
Why this matters
This speech by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland discusses the economic challenges posed by aging populations and weak productivity growth, which are relevant to the banking, investment management, and wealth management sectors.
The Central Bank of Ireland has today (Monday 14 October) published its Flood Protection Gap Report . Some homes and businesses in Ireland are unable to obtain flood cover. This means that when a flood occurs, there can be a shortfall between the actual cost of the flood and the portion of that cost that is covered by…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the Central Bank of Ireland focuses on the flood protection gap, which has implications for the banking, insurance, and consumer credit sectors. It discusses prudential and capital requirements, ESG/sustainability, and reporting/disclosure, making it relevant for a range of financial firms.
“Review of the Consumer Protection Code: securing customers’ interests” - Remarks by Gerry Cross, Director of Financial Regulation – Policy & Risk, Central Bank of Ireland at Insurance Ireland - KPMG Briefing Session: CBI Review of the Consumer Protection Code
Why this matters
The speech discusses the Central Bank of Ireland's review of the Consumer Protection Code, which is a key regulatory framework governing the conduct of financial firms in their dealings with consumers.
Differential Pricing and Business Interruption Insurance demonstrate Central Bank’s focus on conduct, culture and customer treatment Over €130 million paid in business interruption insurance claims to date Insurance sector needs to be prepared for the challenges ahead including digitisation and climate change Speaking…
Why this matters
This regulatory update from the Central Bank of Ireland focuses on the insurance sector, with a emphasis on conduct, culture, and customer treatment, particularly around business interruption insurance and differential pricing. It also discusses the sector's future challenges including digitization and climate change.
Insurance conference explores challenges facing the insurance industry Introduction of proposed judicial guidelines on personal injury claims would bring stability to the cost of insurance Solvency II review in 2020 to ensure continued protection of policyholders and beneficiaries The Central Bank hosted a conference…
Why this matters
This regulatory update discusses challenges facing the insurance industry, including the upcoming Solvency II review and the introduction of judicial guidelines on personal injury claims. It is relevant for insurance firms and covers prudential and consumer protection topics.