Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007
In short
This law, the Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007, primarily deals with financial markets and instruments, and also makes various other changes to existing financial services laws and other specific Acts.
What it regulates
- Markets in financial instruments, including measures implementing European Directives.
- Penalties for certain offences related to Irish investment services law.
- Fees payable to the Central Bank for its functions under Irish investment services law and Irish market abuse law.
- Amendments to various other Acts, including the Central Bank Act 1942, Investment Intermediaries Act 1995, and the Freedom of Information Act 1997.
Who it concerns
- Individuals or entities involved in markets in financial instruments.
- Persons subject to Irish investment services law and Irish market abuse law.
Key points
- A person can be guilty of an offence for failing to discharge certain duties or contravening specific regulations under the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007.
- Such an offence can lead to a fine not exceeding €10,000,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, or both.
- Fees are payable to the Central Bank for its functions under Irish investment services law and Irish market abuse law.
- The Stock Exchange Act 1995 is repealed.
Legal text
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- s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2007 Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 37 of 2007 MARKETS IN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT 2007 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Markets in Financial Instruments Section 1. Short title and collective citation. 2. Commencement. 3. Interpretation. 4. Expenses. 5. Penalties for conviction on indictment of Irish investment services law. 6. Fees payable under section 33K of Central Bank Act 1942. 7. Amendments to Central Bank Act 1942. 8. Repeal of Stock Exchange Act 1995. PART 2 Miscellaneous 9. Penalties for conviction on indictment of European Communities (Reinsurance) Regulations. 10. Amendment to section 1 of Netting of Financial Contracts Act 1995. 11. Amendments to Investment Intermediaries Act 1995. 12. Amendments to Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1985. 13. Amendments to Central Bank Act 1942. 14. Amendments to National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000. 15. Amendments to Finance Act 1993. 16. Amendments to Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938. 17. Amendment to section 35 of Credit Union Act 1997. 18. Amendment of Insurance Act 1936 and certain statutory regulations. 19. Amendment of Central Bank Act 1997. 20. Amendment of Freedom of Information Act 1997. 21. Revocation of Credit Union Act 1997 (Alteration of Financial Limits) Regulations 2007. 22. Amendment of Investor Compensation Act 1998. 23. Further amendment of Investor Compensation Act 1998. 24. Amendment of section 2
- Amendment of Ordnance Survey Ireland Act
- Acts Referred to Bankruptcy Act 1988 1988, No. 27 Central Bank Act 1942 1942, No. 22 Central Bank Act 1971 1971, No. 24 Central Bank Act 1997 1997, No. 8 Companies Acts 1963 to 2006 Consumer Credit Act 1995 1995, No. 24 Credit Union Act 1997 1997, No. 15 Finance Act 1993 1993, No. 13 Freedom of Information Act 1997 1997, No. 13 Health Act 2004 2004, No. 42 Insurance Act 1936 1936, No. 45 Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1985 1985, No. 8 Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 2005, No. 12 Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 1995, No. 11 Investor Compensation Act 1998 1998, No. 37 Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 1938, No. 38 Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices and Oireachtas Members (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 2001, No. 33 National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 2000, No. 33 National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000 2000, No. 39 Netting of Financial Contracts Act 1995 1995, No. 25 Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 1992, No. 3 Ordnance Survey Ireland Act 2001 2001, No. 43 Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 1992, No. 16 Solicitors Acts 1954 to 1994 Stock Exchange Act 1995 1995, No. 9 Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 1997, No. 39 Universities Act 1997 1997, No. 24 Number 37 of 2007 MARKETS IN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT 2007 AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION IN RELATION TO MARKETS IN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND TO MAKE MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES LEGISLATION AND TO THE MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY OFFICES ACT 1938, THE NATIONAL PENSIONS RESERVE FUND ACT 2000, THE ORDNANCE SURVEY IRELAND ACT 2001, AND TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
- [31st October, 2007] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Markets in Financial Instruments Short title and collective citation. 1.— This Act may be cited as the Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act
- Commencement. 2.—
- a)the measures adopted for the time being by the State to implement the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the Supplemental Directive, including but not limited to such measures enacted by— (
- i)an Act, (
- ii)the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 60 of 2007 ), or (iii) any other enactment, (
- b)any measures directly applicable in the State in consequence of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, including but not limited to the MiFID Regulation, and (
- c)any supplementary or consequential measures or both adopted for the time being by the State in respect of the MiFID Regulation; “ Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ” means Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments as amended or replaced from time to time by either a directive or regulation— (
- a)made by a competent organ of the European Union, and (
- b)implemented under the laws of the State; “ MiFID Regulation ” means Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1287/2006 of 10 August 2006 implementing Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards record-keeping obligations for investment firms, transaction reporting, market transparency, admission of financial instruments to trading, and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive; “ Minister ” means the Minister for Finance; “ Supplemental Directive ” means Commission Directive No. 2006/73/EC of 10 August 2006 implementing Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards organisational requirements and operating conditions for investment firms and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive;
- a)the contrary intention appears, or (
- b)Irish investment services law provides otherwise. Expenses. 4.— The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall be paid out of money provided by the Oireachtas. Penalties for conviction on indictment of Irish investment services law. 5.—
- a)any penalty provided by Irish investment services law in respect of a summary conviction for an offence, and (
- b)the ability to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for any offence under Irish investment services law.
- a)Irish investment services law, and (
- b)Irish market abuse law as defined in the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 . Amendments to Central Bank Act 1942. 7.— The Central Bank Act 1942 is amended— (
- a)by substituting the following for the definition of “Supervisory Directives” in section 33AK
- a)Directive 2000/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000, (
- b)Council Directive 93/22/EEC of 10 May 1993, (
- c)Council Directive 85/611/EEC of 20 December 1985, (
- d)Council Directive 92/49/EEC of 18 June 1992, (
- e)Council Directive 92/96/EEC of 10 November 1992, (
- f)the 2003 Market Abuse Directive (within the meaning of Part 4 of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 ), (
- g)the supplemental Directives (within the meaning of that Part 4), (
- h)the 2003 Prospectus Directive (within the meaning of Part 5 of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 ), (
- i)Directive 2005/68/EC of 16 November 2005, (
- j)the Transparency (Regulated Markets) Directive (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2006 ), (
- k)Directive 2006/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 relating to the taking up and pursuit of the business of credit institutions, (
- l)Directive 2006/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on the capital adequacy of investment firms and credit institutions, (
- m)Directive 2002/92/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 December 2002 on insurance mediation, (
- n)Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments, and (
- o)the Supplemental Directive and the MiFID Regulation as defined in section 3
- b)in Schedule 2, by inserting in Part 1 the following item after the item relating to the Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2006 : “ 2007 Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 Part 1 and sections 9 to 11, 13 and 17 ”, and (
- c)in Schedule 2, by inserting in Part 2 the following items after the item relating to the European Communities (Reinsurance) Regulations 2006: “ S.I. No. 660 of 2006 European Communities (Capital Adequacy of Investment Firms) Regulations 2006 The whole instrument S.I. No. 661 of 2006 European Communities (Capital Adequacy of Credit Institutions) Regulations 2006 The whole instrument ”. Repeal of Stock Exchange Act 1995. 8.— The Stock Exchange Act 1995 is repealed on 1 November 2007. PART 2 Miscellaneous Penalties for conviction on indictment of European Communities (Reinsurance) Regulations. 9.—
- a)any penalty provided by the European Communities (Reinsurance) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. No. 380 of 2006 ) in respect of a summary conviction for an offence, and (
- b)the ability to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for any offence under those Regulations. Amendment to section 1 of Netting of Financial Contracts Act 1995. 10.— Section 1 of the Netting of Financial Contracts Act 1995 is amended— (
- a)by inserting the following after the definition of “the Companies Acts”: “ ‘ entity ’ includes— (
- a)a natural or legal person, including a state or any international organisation duly established, (
- b)any subdivision or authenticating or other authority of a state or international organisation, and (
- c)an unincorporated body of persons;”, (
- b)by substituting the following for the definition of “financial contracts”: “ ‘ financial contracts ’ means one or more contracts consisting of one or more or a combination of the following: (
- a)interest-rate contracts which are one or more of— (
- i)single-currency interest rate swaps, (
- ii)basis swaps, (iii) forward-rate agreements, (
- iv)interest-rate futures, (
- v)interest-rate options, (
- vi)other contracts of a similar nature to those specified in any of subparagraphs (
- i)to (v), and (vii) contracts which are combinations of contracts referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)to (vi); (
- b)foreign-exchange contracts which are one or more of— (
- i)cross-currency interest-rate swaps, (
- ii)spot foreign-exchange contracts, (iii) forward foreign-exchange contracts, (
- iv)currency futures, (
- v)currency options, (
- vi)other contracts of a similar nature to those specified in any of subparagraphs (
- i)to (v), and (vii) contracts which are combinations of contracts referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)to (vi); (
- c)contracts relating to, or which concern indices relating to, one or more of equities, bonds, gold, precious metals other than gold, and commodities other than precious metals, or a combination of them, which consist of one or more of— (
- i)swaps, (
- ii)spot contracts, (iii) forward contracts, (
- iv)futures, (
- v)options, (
- vi)other contracts of a similar nature to those specified in any of subparagraphs (
- i)to (v), and (vii) contracts which are combinations of contracts referred to in subparagraphs (
- i)to (vi); (
- d)securities lending and securities borrowing contracts; (
- e)sale and repurchase agreements, including reverse repurchase agreements, in relation to securities; (
- f)buy and sell back agreements in relation to either or both securities and equities; (
- g)in relation to equities, (
- i)equities lending and equities borrowing contracts, and (
- ii)sale and repurchase agreements, including reverse repurchase agreements; (
- h)in relation to commodities, (
- i)commodity lending and commodity borrowing contracts, and (
- ii)sale and repurchase agreements, including reverse repurchase agreements; (
- i)contracts for either or both the assumption of and laying off of credit risk— (
- i)on loans, debt securities or other assets, or (
- ii)in relation to an entity, or other contracts of a similar nature; (
- j)any derivatives not otherwise encompassed by paragraphs (
- a)to (
- i)or paragraphs (
- k)to (
- o)concerning a reference item or index, whether cash-settled or physically settled, including— (
- i)swaps, (
- ii)spot contracts, (iii) forwards, (
- iv)futures, (
- v)options, and (
- vi)contracts for difference; (
- k)title transfer collateral arrangements; (
- l)any net amount due under a netting agreement or a master netting agreement; (
- m)agreements to buy or sell, clear or settle transactions in, or act as a depository for, any— (
- i)financial asset, including, without limitation, any security (including any equity), currency, obligation evidencing debt (including a loan or deposit) and any negotiable or transferable instrument and any intangible asset, or (
- ii)commodity (including precious metal), energy or energy source; (
- n)contracts contained in points 4 to 7, 9 and 10 of Section C of Annex I to Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments; (
- o)any contract included by virtue of section 2; (
- p)contracts designated by regulations made under section 3.”, and (
- c)by substituting “agreement;” for “agreement.” in the definition of “party” and inserting the following after that definition: “ ‘ reference item or index ’ means a reference item, rate or index relating to one or more of the following: (
- a)interest; (
- b)currencies; (
- c)securities (including equities); (
- d)commodities (including precious metals); (
- e)weather; (
- f)carbon or other emissions allowances; (
- g)bandwidth; (
- h)freight; (
- i)energy (including energy sources such as electricity, oil, oil-related products, coal and gas); (
- j)credit risk on any entity or asset; (
- k)statistical data on economic conditions or any measure of economic risk or value; (
- l)market loss; (
- m)natural catastrophes; (
- n)real property; (
- o)renewable energy credits; (
- p)regulatory licences or quotas; (
- q)any factor not otherwise encompassed by paragraphs (
- a)to (
- p)which may impact on the business of an entity, regardless of whether it affects the business of a party to the relevant derivative.”. Amendments to Investment Intermediaries Act 1995. 11.— Section 52 of the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 (as amended by the Investor Compensation Act 1998 ) is amended— (
- a)in subsection
- c)and (d), by deleting “, controlled” in each of the 2 places in which it appears, (
- b)in subsection
- b)and (
- c)by deleting “, controlled” in each of the 3 places in which it appears, and (
- c)by inserting the following after subsection
- a)the money has been lodged on behalf of a client of the firm to an account with a credit institution or relevant party in the name of the firm or of any nominee of the firm, and (
- b)the firm has the capacity to effect transactions on that account.
- a)has been entrusted by or on account of a client with those instruments, and (
- b)either— (
- i)holds those instruments, including by way of holding documents of title to them, or (
- ii)entrusts those instruments to any nominee, and the firm has the capacity to effect transactions in respect of those instruments.
- a)‘nominee’ means a person acting on behalf of an investment business firm as nominee, custodian, or otherwise, and includes an eligible custodian and a nominee company, and (
- b)‘ relevant party ’ means an exchange, clearing house, intermediate broker, OTC counterparty or investment business firm.”. Amendments to Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1985. 12.— The Insurance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1985 is amended— (
- a)by inserting the following before section 4: “Minister’s discretion to wind up Company. 3A.—
- a)that the shares held by the Company in Icarom plc (under administration) be transferred to the Minister, and (
- b)the winding up in accordance with the Companies Acts 1963 to 2006 of the Company.
- a)pay every dividend and other money received by the member in respect of the shares to the Minister for the benefit of the Exchequer, and (
- b)transfer the shares to the Minister as and when required by the Minister.
- ak)by substituting “functions, or” for “functions.”, (
- b)by inserting the following after subsection
- al)to the Agency, if the confidential information is required for the performance of the Agency’s functions.”, (
- c)in section 33N
- a)‘first anniversary’ means 1 May 2008, and (
- b)‘subsequent anniversary’ means 1 May of each subsequent year.
- a)the years prior to the first anniversary, or (
- b)the year prior to each subsequent anniversary date, not less than 2 of the appointed members shall have ceased to hold office by virtue either of this paragraph or paragraph 5
- a)to (
- k)of this Schedule.
- a)to (
- k)of this Schedule, then the terms of office of 2 appointed members must be completed on that anniversary, (
- b)one appointed member ceases to hold office under paragraph 5
- a)to (
- k)of this Schedule, then the term of office of one other appointed member must be completed on that anniversary, or (
- c)2 or more appointed members cease to hold office under paragraph 5
- a)to (
- k)of this Schedule, then the term of office of no other appointed member must be completed on that anniversary.
- f)or (
- g)of this Schedule, are eligible for re-appointment.
- b)in section 18, in the definition of ‘ designated body’ , by substituting the following for paragraph (e): “(
- e)a body specified in Schedule 4 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 ,”, (
- c)in section 18, in the definition of ‘designated body’, by inserting the following after paragraph (e): “(
- ea)the Courts Service, (
- eb)a university within the meaning of the Universities Act 1997 , other than Trinity College and the University of Dublin, (
- ec)the Dublin Institute of Technology, (
- ed)a college within the meaning of section 2 of the Regional Technical Colleges Act 1992 , (
- ee)the Railway Procurement Agency, and (
- ef)the Housing Finance Agency plc.”, (
- d)in section 22, by inserting the following after subsection
- b)for the purposes of those transactions, may issue such funds from the Exchequer as he or she considers appropriate. (1B) All expenses and other costs incurred by the Minister or the Agency, as appropriate, in connection with or arising out of those transactions shall be charged on the Central Fund.”, (
- e)in section 22, by substituting “subsections
- a)pay into any foreign currency clearing account created by the Minister for Finance under section 139 of the Finance Act 1993 the proceeds of any transaction denominated in a currency other than the currency of the State, and (
- b)apply any amounts standing to the credit of any foreign currency clearing account towards the discharging of payment obligations arising under any transaction in connection with the performance of its functions under subsection
- ca)The Minister— (
- i)may engage in transactions of a normal banking nature in connection with the exercise of the powers in subsection
- b)and (c), and (
- ii)for the purposes of those transactions, may issue such funds from the Exchequer as he or she considers appropriate. (
- cb)All the expenses and other costs incurred by the Minister in connection with or arising out of those transactions shall be charged on the Central Fund.”, and (
- b)in section 139 by inserting the following after subsection
- a)pay into any foreign currency clearing account the proceeds of any transaction denominated in a currency other than the currency of the State, and (
- b)apply any amounts standing to the credit of any foreign currency clearing account towards the discharging of payment obligations arising in connection with the discharge of any of its functions.”. Amendments to Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938. 16.— The Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 (as amended by the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 and by the Ministerial, Parliamentary and Judicial Offices and Oireachtas Members (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2001 ) is amended— (
- a)in section 13A
- a)and (b): “(
- a)the person has completed not less than 2 years of ministerial service but is not entitled to a ministerial pension under section 13A, or (
- b)the person has completed not less than 2 years of secretarial service but is not entitled to a secretarial pension under section 13A.”, and (
- d)in section 13AA
- a)for a period exceeding 5 years if, were the loan to be made, the total gross amount outstanding in respect of all loans with greater than 5 years to the final repayment date would then exceed 20 per cent of the total gross loan book balance outstanding at that time in respect of all loans made by the credit union, or 40 per cent of the total gross loan book balance outstanding at that time in respect of all loans made by the credit union where written approval is received from the Bank, (
- b)for a period exceeding 10 years if, were the loan to be made, the total gross amount outstanding in respect of all loans with greater than 10 years to the final repayment date would then exceed 10 per cent of the total gross loan book balance outstanding at that time in respect of all loans made by the credit union, or 15 per cent of the total gross loan book balance outstanding at that time in respect of all loans made by the credit union where written approval is received from the Bank, or (
- c)in the circumstances specified in subsection
- Amendment of Central Bank Act
- 19.— The Central Bank Act 1997 is amended— (a) in section 28, by adding the following definitions: “ ‘ credit ’ means a cash loan (whether or not provided on the security of a mortgage or charge over an estate or interest in land), but does not include credit of a class specified in section 3
- a)for the conveyance by the vendor to the home reversion firm of an estate or interest in land (which includes the principal residence of the vendor or of the vendor’s dependants) for a discounted sum or an income (or both), and (
- b)for the vendor to retain the right to live in the residence until the occurrence of one or more events specified in the agreement; ‘ home reversion firm ’ means a person carrying on a business of entering into home reversion agreements;”; (
- b)in section 28, by substituting the following definition for the definition of “ regulated business ”: “ ‘ regulated business ’ means a bureau de change business, a money transmission business, a home reversion firm or a retail credit firm;”; (
- c)in section 28, by inserting the following definitions after the definition of “regulated business” (as substituted by paragraph (b)): “ ‘ regulated financial service provider ’ has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Central Bank Act 1942 ; ‘ relevant person ’ means a natural person within the State, other than— (
- a)a natural person who is, or satisfies the criteria to elect to be treated as, a professional client for the purposes of the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 60 of 2007 ), or (
- b)a person who is a regulated financial service provider; ‘ retail credit firm ’ means a person prescribed for the purpose of paragraph (
- g)of the definition of ‘ credit insti tution ’ in section 3 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 , or any other person who holds itself out as carrying on a business of, and whose business consists wholly or partly of, providing credit directly to relevant persons, but does not include— (
- a)a person who is a regulated financial service provider, or (
- b)a person who is an authorised credit intermediary under Part XI of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 , or (
- c)in relation to credit that was originally provided by another person, a person to whom all or any part of that other person’s interest in the credit is directly or indirectly assigned or otherwise disposed of, or (
- d)a person who provides credit on a once only or occasional basis, but only if the provision of the credit does not involve a representation, or create an impression (whether in advertising, marketing or otherwise), that the credit would be offered to other persons on the same or substantially similar terms, or (
- e)a person who is exempted, or who belongs to a class of persons that is exempted, under section 29A from being required to hold an authorisation as a retail credit firm;”; (
- d)immediately before section 29, by substituting for the Chapter heading the following: “Chapter 2 Carrying on regulated business without authorisation prohibited”; (
- e)in Chapter 2, by inserting the following section after section 29: “Power of Bank to exempt certain persons from being required to hold authorisation as a retail credit firm. 29A.—
- a)the total amount or value of the credit that is to be provided by the person is such that it is reasonable to assume that the borrower will be in a position to negotiate on equal terms or to obtain appropriate legal and financial advice, or (
- b)the person is one who, under section 8
- a)the total amount or value of the credit that is to be provided by those persons is such that it is reasonable to assume that borrowers from those persons will be in a position to negotiate on equal terms or to obtain appropriate legal and financial advice, or (
- b)the persons are ones who, under section 8
- a)impose additional conditions on a person to whom, or on the persons belonging to a class in respect of which, an exemption has been granted under this section, or (
- b)vary or revoke a condition imposed under subsection
- a)that the circumstances relevant to the exemption have changed and are now such that the exemption would no longer be granted, or (
- b)that a condition of the exemption is not being, or has not been, substantially complied with.
- a)does not carry on any kind of regulated business other than that to which the exemption relates, and (
- b)complies with all conditions subject to which the exemption is granted.”; (
- f)by inserting the following section after section 31: “Provisions supplementary to section 31 applicable to retail credit and home reversion firms. 31A.— For the purposes of section 31
- a)that, where applicable, the memorandum and articles of association of the firm will enable it to operate in accordance with this Act, and any condition or requirement that the Bank may impose, (
- b)as to the probity and competence of each of the firm’s directors and managers, (
- c)as to the suitability of each of the firm’s qualifying shareholders or partners, (
- d)as to the organisational structure and management skills of the firm and that adequate levels of staff and expertise will be employed to carry out its activities, (
- e)that the firm has and will follow procedures that will enable the Bank to be supplied with all information necessary for the performance of the Bank’s supervisory functions and to enable the public to be supplied with information that the Bank specifies, (
- f)that the organisation of the firm’s business structure is such that it, and any of its associated or related undertakings, (so far as appropriate and practicable) are capable of being supervised adequately by the Bank, and (
- g)as to the conduct of the firm’s business, financial resources and any other matters that the Bank considers necessary in the interests of the proper and orderly regulation and supervision of authorised firms or in the interests of the protection of customers or potential customers.”; (
- g)by inserting the following section after section 32: “Additional provisions applicable to retail credit and home reversion firms. 32A.—
- a)request such further information from the firm, or (
- b)instruct an authorised officer to make such inquiries, or carry out such investigations, as it considers necessary for the purpose of properly evaluating an application. Any such inquiries or investigations shall be carried out in accordance with this Act.
- a)shall have regard to any requirements imposed on the firm by an authority of that country that appears to the Bank to exercise a regulatory or supervisory role similar to that of the Bank in relation to the firm, and (
- b)may exchange with that authority information relevant to the carrying out of the Bank’s functions under this Act or the functions of that authority under the laws of that country.”; (
- h)by inserting the following section after section 33: “Imposition of conditions or requirements on authorised retail credit firms and home reversion firms. 33A.—
- a)make the firm’s authorisation subject to such conditions or requirements, or both, as it considers appropriate, relating to— (
- i)the proper and orderly regulation and supervision of retail credit firms or authorised home reversion firms, and (
- ii)the protection of their customers or potential customers; (
- b)impose conditions or requirements, or both, relating to the affairs or activities in an associated undertaking or a related undertaking; (
- c)require the display on a credit agreement or home reversion agreement, or on any other relevant document, of a notice in a form provided or prescribed by the Bank of any information relevant to the agreement; (
- d)at any time, impose conditions or requirements, or both, on an authorised firm and either amend or revoke any condition or requirement imposed under this paragraph or under paragraph (a), (
- b)or (c).
- a)an authorised firm; (
- b)all authorised firms; (
- c)a class or classes of authorised firms; (
- d)a specified period of time or times; (
- e)an associated undertaking or related undertaking; (
- f)such matters relating to the proper and orderly regulation and supervision of authorised firms, and the protection of their customers or potential customers, as the Bank considers appropriate.
- a)the level of training, qualifications or professional competence of managers, officers or employees, (
- b)the provision of information to the Bank or to a person specified by the Bank, and (
- c)the application of a prescribed code of practice relating to— (
- i)regulated financial service providers within the meaning of the Central Bank Act 1942 , or (
- ii)a class of regulated financial service providers whose business appears to be comparable to that of an authorised firm or a class of authorised firms.”; (
- i)by inserting the following section after section 34B: “Transitional provisions. 34C.—
- a)impose on that person such conditions or requirements or both as the Bank considers appropriate relating to the proper and orderly regulation and supervision of a regulated business; (
- b)direct that person not to carry on the business of a retail credit firm, or the business of a home reversion firm, for such period (not exceeding 3 months) as is specified in the direction.
- 21.— The Credit Union Act 1997 (Alteration of Financial Limits) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 193 of 2007 ) are revoked. Amendment of Investor Compensation Act
- 22.— The Investor Compensation Act 1998 is amended— (a) in the definition of “ authorised investment firm ” in section 2
- b)an authorised investment firm as defined in the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 60 of 2007 ), or”, (
- b)in section 2
- a)to whom an investment firm provides investment business services, or (
- b)who has entrusted money or investment instruments to an investment firm in connection with the provision of investment business services by the firm;”; (
- d)in section 2
- a)has a valid practising certificate issued under the Solicitors Acts 1954 to 1994, and (
- b)carries on the relevant activities only incidentally to the legal services he or she provides;”; (
- e)in section 2
- a)investment services as defined in the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007, and (
- b)the activities of an insurance intermediary;”; (
- f)in the definition of “ investment firm ” in section 2
- b)an authorised investment firm as defined in the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007, (
- ba)a person who was formerly an authorised investment firm and whose authorisation has been revoked,”; (
- g)in section 2
- h)by adding the following definition after the definition of “ joint investment business ”: “ ‘liquidation proceeding’ includes— (
- a)a compulsory or court liquidation under the Companies Acts, (
- b)a creditor’s voluntary liquidation under the Companies Acts, (
- c)any receivership or analogous process, (
- d)bankruptcy proceedings under the Bankruptcy Act 1988 , and (
- e)any scheme of arrangement in consequence of the appointment of an examiner;”; (
- i)in section 2
- j)by inserting the following definition after the definition of “ local authority ”: “ ‘ Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ’ means Directive 2004/39/EC of 21 April 2004;”; (
- k)in section 2
- a)is made in relation to an investment firm for reasons directly related to the financial circumstances of the firm, and (
- b)precludes clients of the firm from pursuing claims against the firm for— (
- i)the return of money owed, or belonging to, the client, and held on behalf of the client by the firm in connection with the provision of investment business services, and (
- ii)the return of investment instruments belonging to the client and held, administered or managed by the firm on behalf of the client in connection with the firm’s provision to the client of those services, but does not include a Court decision made under the Companies Acts appointing an examiner or provisional liquidator;”; (
- m)in section 2, by adding the following subsection after subsection
- b)in relation to investment firms, an authorised officer, or an inspector, appointed under the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007;”; (
- p)in section 20, by substituting the following for subsection
- b)despite paragraph (a), the Company may, when specifying rates, or amounts of contributions, or bases, for the calculation of contributions for investment firms, take account of any money, or investment instruments, entrusted to those firms (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) in connection with the provision by those firms of investment business services to the client.”; (
- r)in section 24, by substituting “and by clients” for “and by investors”; (
- s)in section 25
- d)applies”; (
- y)in section 30
- b)of the definition of “ net loss ”: “(
- b)investment instruments belonging to a client of the investment firm, and held, administered or managed by that firm for the client, in connection with the provision of investment business services by that firm to the client, the value of those instruments being determined, so far as possible, by reference to their market value,”. Further amendment of Investor Compensation Act 1998. 23.— The Investor Compensation Act 1998 is further amended— (
- a)in each of subparagraphs (
- i)and (
- ii)of section 30
- a)the administrator has, in relation to the firm, all the powers of an authorised officer under the Act of 1995 and the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2007, and (
- b)the powers available to an authorised officer under that Act and those Regulations apply in relation to the firm accordingly.”; (
- g)in section 33
- h)in section 33(3A), by substituting “those eligible investors” for “those investors”; (
- i)by substituting the following section for section 33A: “Court to appoint liquidator, etc. of investment firm as firm’s administrator in certain circumstances. 33A.— The Court shall, on appointing a liquidator, receiver, the official assignee or a trustee in Bankruptcy in respect of an investment firm, also appoint the liquidator, receiver, official assignee or trustee as administrator of the firm, unless the supervisory authority, with the agreement of the Company, otherwise requests.”; (
- j)in section 34
- m)in section 35(5A), by substituting “the claim of the eligible investor” for “the claim of the investor”; (
- n)in section 35
- a)becoming authorised in another Member State for the purposes of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, and (
- b)establishing a branch in the State in accordance with that Directive, an investment firm may, by giving notice in writing to the Company, exercise the option of participating in investor compensation arrangements in the State in accordance with Article 7.1 of the Investor Compensation Directive. On giving such a notice, the firm becomes an investment firm for the purposes of this Act, subject only to the exceptions specified by this section.”; (
- y)in section 42
- e)in each of paragraphs (
- a)and (
- b)of section 11
- a)and (
- b)of section 15
- k)in section 24, by adding “and to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance” after “moneys provided by the Oireachtas”; (
- l)in section 25