Central Bank Reform Act 2010

In short

This law, the Central Bank Reform Act 2010, focuses on restructuring the Central Bank of Ireland and establishing new rules for individuals working in financial services. It introduces a system to ensure that key personnel in financial institutions are fit and proper for their roles.

What it regulates

Transitional arrangements for the Central Bank of Ireland, including office-holders and employees.
The powers of the Central Bank regarding officers and employees of financial service providers.
The definition and regulation of "controlled functions" within financial service providers.
Procedures for investigating and prohibiting individuals from performing certain functions in financial services.

Who it concerns

The Central Bank of Ireland and its employees.
Individuals holding or seeking to hold "controlled functions" within financial service providers.
Financial service providers themselves.

Key points

The Act establishes "controlled functions" which are specific roles within financial service providers.
Individuals performing "pre-approval controlled functions" require prior approval.
The Head of Financial Regulation can investigate the fitness and probity of persons performing controlled functions.
The Bank can prohibit individuals from carrying out controlled functions.

Legal text

Central Bank Reform Act 2010 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

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ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2010 Central Bank Reform Act 2010 Central Bank Reform Act 2010 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 23 of 2010 CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART 1 Preliminary Section 1. Short title and collective citation. 2. Commencement. 3. Interpretation. PART 2 Reform of the Central Bank of Ireland — transitional and saving provisions 4. Transitional arrangements in relation to certain office-holders. 5. Preservation of rights of employees. 6. Arrangements for secondment of certain employees. 7. Saving of certain regulations, rules, codes, etc. 8. Saving of certain schemes. 9. Applications, etc., made to Regulatory Authority. 10. Information in possession of Regulatory Authority. 11. Regulatory action taken by Regulatory Authority. 12. Inquiries, etc., undertaken by Regulatory Authority. 13. Legal proceedings to which Regulatory Authority is party. 14. Amendments of Central Bank Acts. 15. Amendments of other Acts. 16. Amendments of statutory instruments. 17. Construction of certain references. PART 3 Powers of Bank in relation to officers, etc., of financial service providers Chapter 1 Preliminary 18. Definitions (Part 3). Chapter 2 Controlled functions 19. Definition (Chapter 2). 20. Controlled functions. 21. Application of standards of fitness and probity. 22. Pre-approval controlled functions. 23. Appointment of persons to perform pre-approval controlled functions. Chapter 3 Suspension and investigation of fitness and probity of persons performing controlled functions, etc. 24. Definition (Chapter 3). 25. Head of Financial Regulation may investigate persons’ fitness and probity. 26. Head of Financial Regulation may issue suspension notice, etc. 27. Effect of suspension notices. 28. Suspension notices that have not been confirmed — period of effect. 29. Confirmation of suspension notices. 30. Enforcement of suspension notice. 31. Court’s power to extend validity of suspension notices. 32. Head of Financial Regulation may require persons to give evidence or produce documents. 33. Offence of failing to appear. 34. Investigation into fitness and probity — conduct of proceedings. 35. Proceedings normally to be in private. 36. Offence of failing to produce document, etc. 37. Offence of refusing to answer question, etc. 38. Privilege for evidence given under this Chapter, etc. 39. Payment of allowances and expenses to persons who appear before Head of Financial Regulation. 40. Head of Financial Regulation may certify failure to produce document, etc. 41. Head of Financial Regulation to prepare report. Chapter 4 Prohibition of certain persons from performing controlled functions 42. Definitions (Chapter 4). 43. Bank may prohibit person from carrying out controlled function, etc. 44. Enforcement of certain prohibition notices. 45. Application to Court to confirm prohibition notice. 46. Agreement between Bank or Governor, prohibited person and regulated financial service provider. Chapter 5 Miscellaneous 47. Use of information. 48. Offences of providing false or misleading information, etc. 49. Penalties for offences under this Part. 50. Standards of fitness and probity. 51. Effect of this Part. 52. Appointment of nominees, etc., for purposes of this Part. 53. Regulations — facilitation of performance of functions. SCHEDULE 1 Amendments of Central Bank Acts PART 1 Amendments of Central Bank Act 1942 PART 2 Provisions of the Central Bank Act 1942 repealed PART 3 Amendments of Central Bank Act 1971 PART 4 Amendments of Central Bank Act 1989 PART 5 Amendments of Central Bank Act 1997 PART 6 Amendment of Central Bank Act 1998 SCHEDULE 2 Amendments of other Acts PART 1 Amendments of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009 PART 2 Amendments of Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 PART 3 Amendments of Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 PART 4 Amendments of Consumer Credit Act 1995 PART 5 Amendments of Consumer Protection Act 2007 PART 6 Amendments of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 PART 7 Amendments of Credit Union Act 1997 PART 8 Amendments of Disability Act 2005 PART 9 Amendments of Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 PART 10 Amendments of Insurance Act 1989 PART 11 Amendments of National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 PART 12 Amendments of Official Languages Act 2003 PART 13 Amendment of Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 PART 14 Enactments amended by substituting “Central Bank of Ireland” for “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” SCHEDULE 3 Amendments of statutory instruments PART 1 Amendments of Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Bodies, Designated Directorships of Public Bodies and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004 PART 2 Amendments of European Communities (Consumer Credit Agreements) Regulations 2010 PART 3 Amendments of European Communities (Cooperation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006 PART 4 Amendments of European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2003 PART 5 Amendments of Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005 PART 6 Amendments of Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 PART 7 Amendment of Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007 PART 8 Provisions of statutory instruments amended by substituting “Central Bank of Ireland” for “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” Acts Referred to Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005 Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009 2009, No. 1 Asset Covered Securities Act 2001 2001, No. 47 Assurance Companies Act 1909 9 Edw 7, c. 49 Building Societies Act 1989 1989, No. 17 Carbon Fund Act 2007 2007, No. 12 Carer’s Leave Act 2001 2001, No. 19 Central Bank Act 1942 1942, No. 22 Central Bank Act 1971 1971, No. 24 Central Bank Act 1989 1989, No. 16 Central Bank Act 1997 1997, No. 8 Central Bank Act 1998 1998, No. 2 Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 2003, No. 12 Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Acts 1942 to 2009 Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 2004, No. 23 Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 1990, No. 27 Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 2003, No. 44 Companies Act 1963 1963, No. 33 Companies Act 1990 1990, No. 33 Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 2001, No. 28 Consumer Credit Act 1995 1995, No. 24 Consumer Protection Act 2007 2007, No. 19 Council of Europe Development Bank Act 2004 2004, No. 37 Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 2008, No. 18 Credit Union Act 1997 1997, No. 15 Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 2010, No. 6 Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 2008, No. 7 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 2005, No. 2 Development Banks Act 2005 2005, No. 34 Disability Act 2005 2005, No. 14 Dormant Accounts Act 2001 2001, No. 32 European Communities Act 1972 1972, No. 27 European Communities Act 2009 2009, No. 33 Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 2009, No. 5 Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Act 2009 2009, No. 13 Financial Transfers Act 1992 1992, No. 27 Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 2006, No. 17 Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1992 1992, No. 18 Insurance (Amendment) Act 1978 1978, No. 30 Insurance (No. 2) Act 1983 1983, No. 29 Insurance Act 1936 1936, No. 45 Insurance Act 1953 1953, No. 7 Insurance Act 1964 1964, No. 18 Insurance Act 1989 1989, No. 3 International Criminal Court Act 2006 2006, No. 30 Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2005 2005, No. 12 Investment Funds, Companies and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2006 2006, No. 41 Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 1995, No. 11 Investment Limited Partnerships Act 1994 1994, No. 24 Investor Compensation Act 1998 1998, No. 37 Markets in Financial Instruments and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2007 2007, No. 37 Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005 National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 2009, No. 34 National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 2007, No. 7 Netting of Financial Contracts Act 1995 1995, No. 25 Official Languages Act 2003 2003, No. 32 Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 1997, No. 20 Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006 Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 2003, No. 46 Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 1983, No. 24 Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 2003, No. 29 Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 2001, No. 45 Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007 Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005 2005, No. 9 Sea Pollution (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 2006, No. 29 Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 1994, No. 27 Statutory Instruments Act 1947 1947, No. 44 Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001 Trustee Savings Banks Act 1989 1989, No. 21 Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 2003, No. 2 Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 Unit Trusts Act 1990 1990, No. 37 Number 23 of 2010 CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND AS A SINGLE FULLY-INTEGRATED STRUCTURE WITH A UNITARY BOARD — THE CENTRAL BANK COMMISSION — REPLACING THE BOARDS OF THE CENTRAL BANK AND IRISH FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATORY AUTHORITY; TO ENHANCE THE SYSTEM OF REGULATORY CONTROL AND TO CONFER ADDITIONAL POWERS ON THE CENTRAL BANK, THE GOVERNOR AND THE HEAD OF FINANCIAL REGULATION TO PREVENT POTENTIAL SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM IN THE STATE, SUPPORT THE STABILITY OF THAT SYSTEM AND TO PROTECT USERS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES; TO TRANSFER CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BANK TO THE NATIONAL CONSUMER AGENCY; TO AMEND THE ENACTMENTS RELATING TO THE CENTRAL BANK AND CERTAIN OTHER ACTS CONSEQUENTIAL ON THAT REORGANISATION; TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF LENDING BY CREDIT UNIONS; TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF PERSONS WHO CAN BE AUTHORISED TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF AN INSURER; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [17th July, 2010] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART 1 Preliminary Short title and collective citation. 1.—

(1)This Act may be cited as the Central Bank Reform Act 2010.

(2)The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Acts 1942 to 2009 and this Act may be cited together as the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010. Commencement. 2.—

(1)This Act comes into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision. Different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.

(2)An order under subsection

(1)may, in relation to the amendments of Acts and statutory instruments set out in Schedules 1 to 3, appoint different days for the amendment of different Acts or statutory instruments or different provisions of them. Interpretation. 3.—

(1)In this Act— “Act of 1942” means the Central Bank Act 1942 ; “cessation date” means the last day on which section 33B of the Act of 1942 is in operation.

(2)An expression used in this Act and also in the Act of 1942 has, unless the contrary intention appears, the same meaning in this Act as in the Act of 1942. PART 2 Reform of the Central Bank of Ireland — transitional and saving provisions Transitional arrangements in relation to certain office-holders. 4.—

(1)The person who held, on the cessation date, the office of Chief Executive of the Regulatory Authority (within the meaning then given by the Act of 1942) shall be taken, on the following day, to be appointed as Head of Financial Regulation.

(2)Subject to subsection

(5), the person referred to in subsection

(1)holds the office of Head of Financial Regulation until the time at which his or her appointment as Chief Executive of the Regulatory Authority would have expired.

(3)The person who held, on the cessation date, the office of Director General of the Bank shall be taken, on the following day, to be appointed as Head of Central Banking.

(4)Subject to subsection

(5), the person referred to in subsection

(3)holds the office of Head of Central Banking until the time at which his or her appointment as Director General of the Bank would have expired.

(5)A person referred to in subsection

(1)or

(3)may be removed from office for the same reasons, and in the same way, as a person appointed to hold office as a Head of Function under section 23B of the Act of 1942.

(6)This section has effect notwithstanding sections 23B

(2)and 23C

(2)of the Act of 1942. Preservation of rights of employees. 5.— Other than the holder of a statutory office that ceases to exist because of amendments to the Act of 1942 by this Act, nothing in this Act affects the terms and conditions of the employment of any officer or employee of the Bank. Arrangements for secondment of certain employees. 6.—

(1)In this section— “secondee” means an employee seconded from the Bank to the Agency under arrangements referred to in subsection

(2).

(2)The Bank and the Agency may make arrangements for the secondment of employees of the Bank to the Agency for the purposes of any function transferred from the Bank to the Agency pursuant to amendments to the Act of 1942 by this Act.

(3)A secondee may elect to become an employee of the Agency at any time until 29 February 2012.

(4)A secondee who does not make an election under subsection

(3)continues to be an employee of the Bank until 29 February 2012. His or her terms of employment (including any term conferring a right to an increase in remuneration) continue to be those applicable to his or her employment by the Bank.

(5)On 1 March 2012, a secondee who has not made an election under subsection

(3)shall be taken to have elected to continue to be an employee of the Bank.

(6)An election under subsection

(3)to become an employee of the Agency has effect if and only if the chief executive officer of the Agency, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation all consent. If all of them so consent, the election has effect immediately after the latest of those consents is given. Until that time the employee concerned continues to be an employee of the Bank.

(7)If a secondee elects to become an employee of the Agency, the terms of employment by the Agency at the time the election has effect shall not be less favourable than the terms at that time of his or her employment by the Bank (subject to any provision in any enactment).

(8)If a person’s employment is transferred under this section, the person’s previous service with the Bank is to be counted as service for the purposes of the following Acts: (

a)the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007; (
b)the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001 ; (
c)the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 ; (
d)the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 ; (
e)the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001; (
f)the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts 1973 to 2005; (
g)the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007; (
h)the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004; (
i)the Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006; (
j)the Adoptive Leave Acts 1995 and 2005; (
k)the Carer’s Leave Act 2001 . Saving of certain regulations, rules, codes, etc. 7.—

(1)Any instrument (whether described as a rule, regulation, order or code of practice or in any other way, and whether or not a statutory instrument to which the Statutory Instruments Act 1947 primarily applies) made or issued by or on behalf of the Regulatory Authority or the Consumer Director and in force on the cessation date has, after that date, the same force and effect as it had on that date.

(2)An instrument referred to in subsection

(1)may be revoked or amended by the Bank as if made by the Bank. Saving of certain schemes. 8.—

(1)The repeal of section 33 of the Act of 1942 by this Act does not affect the operation of any scheme made by the Bank or the Governor under that section and still in operation, or any rights of any person under such a scheme.

(2)A scheme referred to in subsection

(1)may be amended by the Bank as if section 33 of the Act of 1942 had not been repealed. Applications, etc., made to Regulatory Authority. 9.—

(1)An application for a licence, authorisation or permission (however described) made to the Regulatory Authority on or before the cessation date has, after that date, the effect that it would have if made to the Bank.

(2)Nothing in subsection

(1)is taken to alter the date on which an application referred to in that subsection was made. Information in possession of Regulatory Authority. 10.—

(1)On the day after the cessation date, the records of the Regulatory Authority and information that was, on the cessation date, in the possession of the Regulatory Authority come into the possession of the Bank.

(2)The Bank has the same rights, powers, duties and obligations in relation to records and information referred to in subsection

(1)as the Regulatory Authority had on the cessation date.

(3)In particular, without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(2), the Bank— (a) may have regard, in carrying out its regulatory functions under the Act of 1942 as amended by this Act, to any record or information referred to in subsection

(1), (

b)specifically, may have regard to any such record or information for the purpose of deciding whether a person may have committed an offence (whether against the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010 or any other law), and (
c)has the same powers and obligations to deal with such records and information (including that of disclosing such information to another authority in accordance with section 33AK of the Act of 1942) as the Regulatory Authority had on the cessation date. Regulatory action taken by Regulatory Authority. 11.—

(1)A regulatory action taken by the Regulatory Authority on or before the cessation date, and not already spent, continues to have effect according to its terms. The Bank may enforce such a regulatory action.

(2)In subsection

(1)“regulatory action” includes any direction, order, requirement, sanction, condition, appointment or request (however described) of a regulatory nature made, given or imposed by the Regulatory Authority. Inquiries, etc., undertaken by Regulatory Authority. 12.—

(1)An inquiry undertaken by the Regulatory Authority under Chapters 2 and 3 of Part IIIC of the Act of 1942 on or before the cessation date, and not already completed, may be continued by the Bank. The Bank may take regulatory action on the basis of such an inquiry.

(2)An assessor appointed by the Regulatory Authority on or before the cessation date under— (

a)Part 5 of the Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005, (
b)Part 5 of the Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005, or (
c)Part 10 of the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007, may continue, if the assessment for which he or she was appointed is not completed at that date, to carry out that assessment. The Bank may take regulatory action on the basis of such an assessment.

(3)In subsections

(1)and

(2)“regulatory action” includes any direction, order, requirement, sanction, condition, appointment or request (however described) of a regulatory nature that the Bank may make, give or impose. Legal proceedings to which Regulatory Authority is party. 13.—

(1)If on the cessation date the Regulatory Authority is a party to any legal proceedings, then the Bank is taken, immediately after that date, to be substituted for the Regulatory Authority as such a party.

(2)Nothing in subsection

(1)makes available against the Bank any right (including, in particular, any right to seek discovery of documents) that was not or is no longer available against the Regulatory Authority.

(3)An order by a court or the Appeal Tribunal against the Regulatory Authority has effect, after the cessation date, as an order against the Bank.

(4)In this section “legal proceedings” includes— (

a)an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal, and (
b)a prosecution where the Regulatory Authority is prosecutor. Amendments of Central Bank Acts. 14.—

(1)The Act of 1942 is amended as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 .

(2)Parts IIIC, VIIA and VIIB of the Act of 1942 are further amended as follows: (

a)by deleting “Regulatory Authority” and substituting “Bank” in each place where it occurs; (
b)by deleting “that Authority” and substituting “the Bank” in each place where it occurs.

(3)The provisions of the Act of 1942 set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1 are repealed.

(4)The Central Bank Act 1971 is amended as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 1 .

(5)The Central Bank Act 1989 is amended as set out in Part 4 of Schedule 1 .

(6)The Central Bank Act 1997 is amended as set out in Part 5 of Schedule 1 .

(7)The Central Bank Act 1998 is amended as set out in Part 6 of Schedule 1 . Amendments of other Acts. 15.—

(1)The Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009 is amended as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2 .

(2)The Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 is amended as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2 .

(3)The Company Law Enforcement Act 2001 is amended as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 2 .

(4)The Consumer Credit Act 1995 is amended as set out in Part 4 of Schedule 2 .

(5)The Consumer Protection Act 2007 is amended as set out in Part 5 of Schedule 2 .

(6)The Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 is amended as set out in Part 6 of Schedule 2 .

(7)The Credit Union Act 1997 is amended as set out in Part 7 of Schedule 2 .

(8)The Disability Act 2005 is amended as set out in Part 8 of Schedule 2 .

(9)The Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 is amended as set out in Part 9 of Schedule 2 .

(10)The Insurance Act 1989 is amended as set out in Part 10 of Schedule 2 .

(11)The National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 is amended as set out in Part 11 of Schedule 2 .

(12)The Official Languages Act 2003 is amended as set out in Part 12 of Schedule 2 .

(13)The Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 is amended as set out in Part 13 of Schedule 2 .

(14)Each enactment specified in Part 14 of Schedule 2 is amended by deleting “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” and substituting “Central Bank of Ireland”. Amendments of statutory instruments. 16.—

(1)The Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Bodies, Designated Directorships of Public Bodies and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 699 of 2004 ) are amended as set out in Part 1 of Schedule 3 .

(2)The European Communities (Consumer Credit Agreements) Regulations 2010 ( S.I. No. 281 of 2010 ) are amended as set out in Part 2 of Schedule 3 .

(3)The European Communities (Cooperation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006 ( S.I. No. 290 of 2006 ) are amended as set out in Part 3 of Schedule 3 .

(4)The European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 211 of 2003 ) are amended as set out in Part 4 of Schedule 3 .

(5)The Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005 ( S.I. No. 342 of 2005 ) are amended as set out in Part 5 of Schedule 3 .

(6)The Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 ( S.I. No. 324 of 2005 ) are amended as set out in Part 6 of Schedule 3 .

(7)The Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007 ( S.I. No. 277 of 2007 ) are amended as set out in Part 7 of Schedule 3 .

(8)If a provision of an Order made pursuant to section 4 of the Financial Transfers Act 1992 provides that the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland may give directions or issue instructions for any purpose, the provision is amended by deleting “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” and substituting “Central Bank of Ireland”.

(9)If a provision of Regulations made pursuant to section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972 (being Regulations made for the purpose of a Regulation of the European Commission or the Council of the European Union imposing financial sanctions) provides that the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland may give directions or issue instructions for any purpose, the provision is amended by deleting “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” and substituting “Central Bank of Ireland”.

(10)If a provision of Regulations made pursuant to section 42

(6)of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 provides that the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland may give directions or issue instructions for any purpose, the provision is amended by deleting “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” and substituting “Central Bank of Ireland”.

(11)Each provision of a statutory instrument specified in Part 8 of Schedule 3 is amended by deleting “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland” and substituting “Central Bank of Ireland” in each place where it occurs.

(12)The amendment of a statutory instrument by this section does not prevent or restrict the subsequent amendment or revocation of the instrument by another statutory instrument. Construction of certain references. 17.—

(1)After the cessation date, a reference in an enactment or a provision of a statutory instrument to the Board of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland shall be construed as a reference to the Commission.

(2)After the cessation date, a reference in an enactment or a provision of a statutory instrument to a member of the Board of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland shall be construed as a reference to a member of the Commission.

(3)After the cessation date, a reference in an enactment or a provision of a statutory instrument to the Chief Executive of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority shall be construed as a reference to the Head of Financial Regulation.

(4)After the cessation date, any other reference in an enactment or a provision of a statutory instrument to the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland shall be construed as a reference to the Bank.

(5)After the cessation date, any other reference in an enactment or a provision of a statutory instrument to the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (as “the Regulatory Authority ” or in any other way) shall be construed as a reference to the Bank. PART 3 Powers of Bank in relation to officers, etc., of financial service providers Chapter 1 Preliminary Definitions (Part 3). 18.—

(1)In this Part— “ Court ” means the High Court; “ evidentiary notice ” means a notice under section 32 ; “ controlled function ” means a function prescribed in regulations made under section 20 ; “ pre-approval controlled function ” shall be construed in accordance with section 22 ; “ suspension notice ” means a notice under section 26 .

(2)This Part applies to and in relation to regulated financial service providers other than credit unions.

(3)On and from a date to be fixed by the Minister by order, this Part applies to and in relation to all regulated financial service providers, including credit unions. Chapter 2 Controlled functions Definition (Chapter 2). 19.— In this Chapter “relevant obligations” has the same meaning as in Part IV of the Central Bank Act 1997 . Controlled functions. 20.—

(1)The Bank may make regulations prescribing functions that are to be controlled functions.

(2)The Bank may prescribe a function under subsection

(1)if and only if the function is a function in relation to the provision of a financial service and— (

a)is likely to enable the person responsible for its performance to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the affairs of a regulated financial service provider, (
b)is related to ensuring, controlling or monitoring compliance by a regulated financial service provider with its relevant obligations, or (
c)is likely to involve the person responsible for its performance in the provision of a financial service by a regulated financial service provider in one or more of the following ways: (
i)the giving of advice or assistance to a customer of the regulated financial service provider in the course of providing, or in relation to the provision of, the financial service; (
ii)dealing in or having control over property of a customer of the regulated financial service provider to whom a financial service is provided or to be provided, whether that property is held in the name of the customer or some other person; (iii) dealing in or with property on behalf of the regulated financial service provider, or providing instructions or directions in relation to such dealing.

(3)A controlled function that is carried on by a person who, or a partnership or an entity that, is not a regulated financial service provider remains a controlled function.

(4)A controlled function remains a controlled function even if— (

a)it is carried on at an office or location outside the State, (
b)it is carried on at the office or location of another person, whether or not the other person is a regulated financial service provider, or (
c)it relates to a business of a regulated financial service provider established in the State conducted by that provider outside the State.

(5)A function may be prescribed as a controlled function in relation to a specified class or classes of regulated financial service providers or in relation to regulated financial service providers generally.

(6)The Bank shall give to the Minister a copy of any regulations made by it under this section as soon as practicable after the regulations are made and the Minister shall, as soon as may be, cause a copy of the regulations to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. Application of standards of fitness and probity. 21.—

(1)A regulated financial service provider shall not permit a person to perform a controlled function unless— (

a)the regulated financial service provider is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person complies with any standard of fitness and probity in a code issued under section 50 , and (
b)the person has agreed to abide by any such standard.

(2)The Bank may take into account standards of fitness and probity referred to in subsection

(1)when performing its functions and exercising its powers. Pre-approval controlled functions. 22.—

(1)A function is a pre-approval controlled function if— (a) it is prescribed as such in regulations made pursuant to subsection

(2), or (b) it has been declared by the Bank to be a pre-approval controlled function by written notice pursuant to subsection

(8).

(2)The Bank may prescribe by regulation a controlled function as a pre-approval controlled function if the function is one by which a person may exercise a significant influence on the conduct of a regulated financial service provider’s affairs. In prescribing such a function, the Bank may describe or identify the function by reference to a title commonly used for a person who performs the function.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(2), the Bank may, pursuant to that subsection, prescribe a controlled function as a pre-approval controlled function if— (

a)the person who performs the function reports directly to— (
i)a person who holds an office or position mentioned in a subparagraph of subsection

(4)(a), or (

ii)a person referred to in paragraph (
b)or (
c)of subsection

(4), and (

b)the Bank is satisfied that the prescription of the function as a pre-approval controlled function— (
i)is warranted on the grounds of the size or complexity of the regulated financial service provider or its business, and (
ii)is necessary or prudent in order to verify the compliance by the regulated financial service provider with its relevant obligations.

(4)For the purposes of subsection

(2)— (

a)in the case of a regulated financial service provider that is a body corporate of a prescribed class, a person who holds or performs the duties of any of the following positions or offices in a regulated financial service provider shall be taken to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the regulated financial service provider’s affairs: (
i)the office of director; (
ii)the office of chief executive; (iii) the office of secretary; (
iv)subject to subsection

(3), an office or position the holder of which reports directly to— (I) a person who holds an office or position referred to in subparagraph (i), (

ii)or (iii), or (II) a person referred to in paragraph (
b)or (c), (
b)each member of a partnership that is a regulated financial service provider of a prescribed class shall be taken to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the regulated financial service provider’s affairs, and (
c)if a natural person is a regulated financial service provider of a prescribed class, he or she shall be taken to exercise a significant influence on the conduct of the regulated financial service provider’s affairs.

(5)For the purposes of subsection

(4)(a), the Bank may prescribe bodies corporate of a specified class or may prescribe all bodies corporate to be a class. In prescribing bodies corporate of a particular class, the Bank may define the class by reference to any common characteristic of the class, including in particular the kind of business engaged in or the size of the balance sheets of the bodies corporate.

(6)For the purposes of paragraph (

b)or (
c)of subsection

(4), the Bank may prescribe regulated financial service providers that are partnerships or natural persons, as the case may be, of a specified class or may prescribe all regulated financial service providers that are partnerships or natural persons to be a class. In prescribing regulated financial service providers that are partnerships or natural persons of a particular class, the Bank may define the class by reference to any common characteristic of the class, including in particular the kind of business engaged in or the annual turnover of the partnerships or natural persons concerned.

(7)Regulations made under this section may be made in the same instrument as regulations made under section 20 .

(8)The Bank may declare by notice in writing served on a regulated financial service provider that a function performed by, for or on behalf of the regulated financial service provider is a pre-approval controlled function if— (

a)the person who performs the function is concerned in the management of the regulated financial service provider, (
b)the function is not prescribed as a pre-approval controlled function in regulations made pursuant to subsection

(2), and (c) no other person in the regulated financial service provider performs a pre-approval controlled function. Appointment of persons to perform pre-approval controlled functions. 23.— A regulated financial service provider shall not offer to appoint a person to perform a pre-approval controlled function unless the Bank has approved in writing the appointment of the person to perform the function. An offer made in contravention of this subsection does not create any contractual obligation.

(2)For the purposes of considering whether or not to approve a person under subsection

(1), the Bank may request the person, or a specified officer or employee of the regulated financial service provider that proposes to appoint the person to perform a controlled function, by notice in writing to do any one or more of the following: (

a)produce a specified document or documents to the Bank; (
b)provide specified information to the Bank; (
c)produce to the Bank documents of a kind described in the notice; (
d)answer a question or questions set out in the notice; (
e)attend before a specified officer or employee of the Bank for interview.

(3)A notice under subsection

(2)shall specify a date and time by which, and a place at which, the person shall provide the document or documents or information, provide answers to the question or questions, or attend for interview, as the case may be.

(4)Nothing in subsection

(2)or any notice given by the Bank under that subsection requires a person— (

a)to produce to the Bank a document that the person could not have been compelled to produce to a court, (
b)to give the Bank information that the person could not have been compelled to give a court, or (
c)to answer a question (either in writing or at interview) that the person could not have been compelled to answer in a court.

(5)The Bank may refuse to approve the appointment of a person for the purposes of subsection

(1)where— (

a)the Bank is of the opinion that the person is not of such fitness and probity as is appropriate to perform the function for which he or she is proposed to be appointed, or (
b)the Bank is unable to decide, on the basis of the information available to it, whether the person is of such fitness and probity.

(6)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(5), the Bank may refuse to approve the appointment of a person under subsection

(1)if— (a) the person, or an officer or employee of the regulated financial service provider concerned, has failed to comply with a request under subsection

(2), or (

b)any of the grounds set out in paragraphs (
a)to (
g)of section 25

(3)apply.

(7)A refusal pursuant to subsection

(5)is an appealable decision for the purposes of Part VIIA of the Act of 1942. Chapter 3 Suspension and investigation of fitness and probity of persons performing controlled functions, etc. Definition (Chapter 3). 24.— In this Chapter “ suspended person ” means a person who is the subject of a suspension notice. Head of Financial Regulation may investigate persons’ fitness and probity. 25.—

(1)If in relation to a person to whom subsection

(2)applies, the Head of Financial Regulation is of the opinion that— (

a)there is reason to suspect the person’s fitness and probity to perform the relevant controlled function, and (
b)in the circumstances an investigation is warranted into the person’s fitness and probity, the Head of Financial Regulation may conduct an investigation, in accordance with this Chapter, in relation to the fitness and probity of the person to perform the controlled function.

(2)This subsection applies to a person— (

a)if the person performs a controlled function in relation to a regulated financial service provider, (
b)if, to the knowledge of the Head of Financial Regulation, a regulated financial service provider proposes to appoint the person to carry out a controlled function (other than a pre-approval controlled function), or (
c)if the Head of Financial Regulation has reason to believe that a regulated financial service provider is considering the appointment of the person to perform a controlled function (other than a pre-approval controlled function).

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(1), the Head of Financial Regulation may form the opinion referred to in that subsection if there is reason to suspect that— (

a)the person does not have the experience, qualifications or skills necessary to perform properly and effectively the controlled function, the part of a controlled function or any controlled function, as the case may be, (
b)the person does not satisfy an applicable standard of fitness and probity in a code issued pursuant to section 50 , (
c)the person has participated in serious misconduct in relation to the business of a regulated financial service provider, (
d)the person has directly or indirectly provided information to the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation (whether pursuant to this Part or otherwise) that the person knew or ought to have known was false or misleading, (
e)the person has directly or indirectly provided information that the person knew or ought to have known was false or misleading to another person in order for it to be provided to the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation, (
f)the person has caused or sought to cause information requested by the Head of Financial Regulation by evidentiary notice from a regulated financial service provider or a person who is carrying out a controlled function not to be provided by the due date, (
g)the person has failed to comply with an evidentiary notice, or (
h)the person has been convicted of an offence (whether in the State or outside the State) of money laundering or terrorist financing or an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust. Head of Financial Regulation may issue suspension notice, etc. 26.—

(1)If a person’s fitness and probity is or has been the subject of an investigation under section 25 , and the Head of Financial Regulation is satisfied that it is necessary in the interests of the proper regulation of a regulated financial service provider concerned that the person not perform the relevant controlled function, or any controlled function, while the Head of Financial Regulation, the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, is carrying out any function in relation to the person under this Chapter or Chapter 4 , the Head of Financial Regulation may issue a notice (in this Part called a “suspension notice”) in relation to the person.

(2)When considering whether to issue a suspension notice, the Head of Financial Regulation shall have particular regard, where appropriate, to— (

a)the need to prevent potential serious damage to the financial system in the State and ensure the continued stability of that system, and (
b)the need to protect users of financial services.

(3)Before issuing a suspension notice in the circumstances referred to in section 25

(2)(c), the Head of Financial Regulation shall ask the regulated financial service provider concerned in writing whether it is actually considering the appointment of the person concerned to perform the relevant controlled function. If the regulated financial service provider confirms in writing that it is not considering such an appointment, the Head of Financial Regulation shall not issue the notice unless there is reason to believe that such an appointment will nevertheless be made, or has been made.

(4)A suspension notice— (

a)is required to be in writing, (
b)shall set out the grounds on which the Head of Financial Regulation holds the opinion referred to in section 25

(1), (

c)shall specify whether the suspended person is suspended from performing— (
i)a particular specified controlled function, (
ii)a specified part of a particular specified controlled function, or (iii) all controlled functions, (
d)shall require the suspended person and the regulated financial service provider concerned to show cause, in writing, within 5 days after service of the notice, why the suspension order should not be confirmed, and (
e)shall set out any condition imposed under subsection

(8)on the regulated financial service provider.

(5)The Head of Financial Regulation shall serve a copy of a suspension notice on each of the following: (

a)the suspended person; (
b)each regulated financial service provider for whom, to the knowledge of the Head of Financial Regulation, the suspended person performs the specified controlled function, the specified part of a controlled function, or any controlled function, as the case requires; (
c)any regulated financial service provider that— (
i)to the knowledge of the Head of Financial Regulation, proposes to appoint the suspended person to perform the specified controlled function, the specified part of a controlled function, or any controlled function, as the case requires, or (
ii)the Head of Financial Regulation believes to be considering appointing the suspended person to perform the specified controlled function, the specified part of a controlled function, or any controlled function, as the case requires.

(6)A suspension notice may be served on a person (including a regulated financial service provider)— (

a)by delivering it to the person, (
b)by leaving it at the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in a case in which an address for service has been furnished, at that address, (
c)by sending it by post in a prepaid letter to the address at which the person ordinarily resides or, in a case in which an address for service has been furnished, to that address, or (
d)electronically (by electronic mail to an email address, or by facsimile to a facsimile number, furnished by the person to, or otherwise known to, the Head of Financial Regulation).

(7)A regulated financial service provider on which a suspension notice is served shall immediately— (

a)give a copy of the notice to the suspended person (unless it is impracticable to do so), and (
b)after it has done so, certify in writing to the Head of Financial Regulation that it has done so.

(8)In a suspension notice the Head of Financial Regulation may impose on any regulated financial service provider concerned any terms and conditions relating to the enforcement of, or compliance with, the notice that the Head of Financial Regulation thinks fit (including any condition as to the cessation, restriction or conduct of all or part of the business of the regulated financial service provider concerned until the regulated financial service provider complies with the notice).

(9)A suspended person, and a regulated financial service provider on which a suspension notice is served, may, within the period mentioned in subsection

(4)(d), make a written submission to the Head of Financial Regulation in relation to the fitness and probity of the suspended person concerned or any terms or conditions imposed.

(10)Where a person on whom a suspension notice has been served asks the Head of Financial Regulation to decide, before the end of the period provided by section 28 (b) (i), whether or not to confirm the suspension notice, and provides material that the Head of Financial Regulation is satisfied allows him or her to make a proper and fair decision, the Head of Financial Regulation shall make all reasonable efforts to make that decision as soon as reasonably practicable. Effect of suspension notices. 27.—

(1)A regulated financial service provider on whom a suspension notice is served— (

a)shall immediately remove the suspended person concerned from performing— (
i)the particular controlled function concerned, (
ii)the specified part of the controlled function concerned, or (iii) all controlled functions, as specified in the notice, or (
b)shall not appoint the suspended person to carry out the controlled function or part, or any controlled function, as specified in the notice, as the case requires.

(2)A regulated financial service provider on whom a suspension notice is served shall comply with any condition imposed on the regulated financial service provider by the notice.

(3)A suspended person on whom a suspension notice in relation to him or her is served, or who has been given a copy of such a notice by a regulated financial service provider shall cease performing, or (as the case requires) shall not begin to perform— (

a)the particular controlled function concerned, (
b)the specified part of the controlled function concerned, or (
c)all controlled functions, as specified in the relevant suspension notice.

(4)A suspension notice does not alter the contractual rights of any person to remuneration or benefits. Those rights shall continue to be determined in accordance with the relevant contract. Suspension notices that have not been confirmed — period of effect. 28.— A suspension notice that has not been confirmed by the Head of Financial Regulation pursuant to section 29 — (

a)takes effect on its service on the regulated financial service provider for whom the suspended person performs the relevant controlled function, and (
b)ceases to have effect— (
i)at the end of the 10th day after that service, unless within that period it is confirmed in accordance with section 29 , or (
ii)if before the end of that day the Head of Financial Regulation revokes the notice, when the notice is revoked. Confirmation of suspension notices. 29.—

(1)If the Head of Financial Regulation, having considered any written submissions made pursuant to section 26 within the period mentioned in section 26

(4)(

d)by a person on whom, or a regulated financial service provider on which, a suspension notice has been served, is satisfied that— (
a)there is still reason to believe that the person is not of such fitness and probity as is appropriate to perform the relevant controlled function, (
b)in the circumstances an investigation is still warranted into the person’s fitness and probity, and (
c)it is necessary in the interests of the proper regulation of the financial service provider that the person not perform the controlled function, or any controlled function, while the matter is investigated, the Head of Financial Regulation may confirm the suspension notice.

(2)To avoid any doubt, the Head of Financial Regulation may confirm a suspension notice at the end of the period mentioned in section 26

(4)(d) even if no submission has been made in relation to it by either or both of the suspended person and any regulated financial service provider concerned.

(3)If a suspended person makes a submission in relation to a suspension notice after the end of the period mentioned in section 26

(4)(d), and the Head of Financial Regulation is satisfied that there was good reason why the submission could not have been made within that period, or that it is necessary to do so in the interests of justice, the Head of Financial Regulation shall— (a) consider the submission, and (b) if after doing so he or she is satisfied that any condition in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection

(1)is no longer satisfied, revoke the notice.

(4)A suspension notice that has been confirmed in accordance with subsection

(1)has effect for 3 months (unless sooner revoked) from the date upon which the suspension notice would otherwise have ceased to have effect under section 28 (b).

(5)The Head of Financial Regulation shall serve a notice of the confirmation of a suspension notice on each person on whom the suspension notice was served.

(6)The Head of Financial Regulation may revoke a suspension notice at any time if he or she considers that— (

a)there is no longer any reason to suspect the person’s fitness and probity to perform the relevant controlled function, or (
b)although the investigation continues, it is no longer necessary in the interests of the proper regulation of the regulated financial service provider concerned that the person not perform the relevant controlled function, or any controlled function, during the investigation. Enforcement of suspension notice. 30.— If— (
a)a person performs a controlled function or part of a controlled function in contravention of a suspension notice, or (
b)a regulated financial service provider permits a suspended person to perform a controlled function or part of a controlled function in contravention of a suspension notice, the Head of Financial Regulation may apply ex parte to the Court for an order directing the person or regulated financial service provider to comply with the notice. Court’s power to extend validity of suspension notices. 31.—

(1)During the period of validity of a suspension notice that has been confirmed by the Head of Financial Regulation, the Head of Financial Regulation may apply to the Court, on notice to the suspended person and any regulated financial service provider on which the notice was served, for an order extending the period of validity of the notice.

(2)If the Court is satisfied, having regard to the reasons for the issue and confirmation of the notice stated by the Head of Financial Regulation, that there are sufficient grounds to extend the period of validity of the notice, the Court may extend the notice for such further period (but not longer than a further 3 months) as the Court orders.

(3)When considering whether to make an order under subsection

(2), the Court shall give particular regard to— (

a)the need to prevent potential serious damage to the financial system in the State and ensure the continued stability of that system, and (
b)the need to protect users of financial services. Head of Financial Regulation may require persons to give evidence or produce documents. 32.—

(1)The Head of Financial Regulation may serve a notice (in this Part called an “ evidentiary notice ”) on a person requiring the person— (

a)to appear before the Head of Financial Regulation to give evidence about a matter, (
b)to provide information to the Head of Financial Regulation, or (
c)to produce a document for examination, if— (
i)the Head of Financial Regulation is investigating the person’s fitness and probity under this Chapter, or (
ii)the Head of Financial Regulation believes on reasonable grounds that the person may be able to give evidence, or to produce a document, that relates to a matter concerning the fitness or probity of a person whose fitness and probity is being investigated under this Chapter.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(1), the Head of Financial Regulation may serve a notice under subsection

(1)on— (

a)a regulated financial service provider, (
b)a former regulated financial service provider, or (
c)an officer or employee, or former officer or employee, of a regulated financial service provider or a former regulated financial service provider.

(3)An evidentiary notice shall— (

a)specify the matter to which the evidence relates, or specify or describe the document to be produced or the information to be provided, as the case requires, (
b)in the case of a notice to appear before the Head of Financial Regulation to give evidence— (
i)specify the date, time and place at which the person is required to appear before the Head of Financial Regulation, and (
ii)state whether and to what extent the evidence is to be given orally or on affidavit, and (
c)in the case of a notice to provide information or produce a document for examination, specify— (
i)the date and time by which, and the place at which, the information is to be provided or the document is to be produced, and (
ii)the officer or employee of the Bank to whom the information is to be provided or the document produced.

(4)The Head of Financial Regulation may take a copy or copies of a document produced pursuant to an evidentiary notice, and may retain any such copy.

(5)Nothing in this section affects any power of the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation to obtain documents or information otherwise than under this section. Offence of failing to appear. 33.—

(1)A person commits an offence if, having been required to appear before the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice, the person fails to comply with the requirement, and has not been excused, or released from further attendance, by the Head of Financial Regulation.

(2)Subsection

(1)does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse. Investigation into fitness and probity — conduct of proceedings. 34.—

(1)The Head of Financial Regulation may hear oral evidence where he or she is satisfied that it is necessary to do so for the proper conduct of an investigation.

(2)The Head of Financial Regulation may permit a person giving oral evidence to be cross-examined.

(3)The Head of Financial Regulation shall determine the procedures for the conduct of proceedings in an investigation, subject to any regulations made by the Bank under section 53

(2). Proceedings normally to be in private. 35.—

(1)Except as provided by this section, evidence to be given, or a document to be produced, to the Head of Financial Regulation by a person who appears before the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice shall be given or produced in private.

(2)If a person who appears before the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice requests that the matter or any part of it be dealt with in public, the Head of Financial Regulation shall comply with the request unless— (

a)the matter raises issues that, in the opinion of the Head of Financial Regulation, should be dealt with in private, or (
b)the Head of Financial Regulation considers that it is necessary or desirable to deal with the matter or part of it in private in order to avoid the disclosure of information of the kind referred to in section 33AK(1A) of the Act of 1942.

(3)Subject to subsections

(1)and

(2), if the Head of Financial Regulation is satisfied that it is desirable in the public interest that the evidence to be given should be given, or the document to be produced should be produced, in public, the Head of Financial Regulation may direct accordingly.

(4)If the evidence is to be given, or the document is to be produced, in private, the Head of Financial Regulation may do either or both of the following: (

a)give directions as to the persons (other than the Head of Financial Regulation or an officer or employee of the Bank) who may be present during the proceeding; (
b)give directions preventing or restricting the publication of the whole or any part of the evidence or of matters contained in the document.

(5)If the evidence is to be given, or the document is to be produced, in private, a person (other than the person required to appear before the Head of Financial Regulation, the Head of Financial Regulation or an officer or employee of the Bank) may be present only if entitled to be present because of a direction given under subsection

(4)(a).

(6)A person who contravenes a direction of the Head of Financial Regulation under subsection

(4)(b) commits an offence. Offence of failing to produce document, etc. 36.—

(1)A person commits an offence if, having been required to produce a document or provide information to the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice, he or she fails to comply with the requirement and has not been excused by the Head of Financial Regulation.

(2)Subsection

(1)does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

(3)It is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection

(2)that— (

a)the person does not have the document or information and cannot by any reasonable effort obtain it; or (
b)the person could not be compelled to produce the document in, or provide the information to, a court of law.

(4)Subsection

(3)does not limit what is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection

(2). Offence of refusing to answer question, etc. 37.—

(1)A person appearing before the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice commits an offence if the person— (

a)refuses or fails to give evidence in compliance with the evidentiary notice, or (
b)refuses or fails to answer a question put to the person by the Head of Financial Regulation or in cross-examination with the permission of the Head of Financial Regulation.

(2)Subsection

(1)does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.

(3)It is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection

(2)for a person to refuse or fail to answer a question that the answer might tend to incriminate the person.

(4)Subsection

(3)does not limit what is a reasonable excuse for the purposes of subsection

(2).

(5)If a person alleges that he or she has a reasonable excuse for refusing or failing to give evidence, or refusing or failing to answer a question, he or she shall provide a written statement setting out details of the excuse to the Head of Financial Regulation.

(6)The Bank may have regard to the contents of a statement under subsection

(5)for the purposes of the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions under the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010.

(7)A statement under subsection

(5)is not admissible in evidence, against the person who made it, in proceedings in relation to an offence. Privilege for evidence given under this Chapter, etc. 38.— Evidence given to the Head of Financial Regulation in accordance with this Chapter, and any report prepared pursuant to section 41 on the basis of such evidence, is absolutely privileged. Payment of allowances and expenses to persons who appear before Head of Financial Regulation. 39.—

(1)A person (other than a person to whom subsection

(2)applies) who appears before the Head of Financial Regulation in compliance with an evidentiary notice is entitled to be paid such allowances and travelling or other expenses as the Head of Financial Regulation may reasonably allow.

(2)This subsection applies to— (

a)a person whose fitness and probity is being investigated under this Part, (
b)a regulated financial service provider or a former regulated financial service provider, and (
c)a person called or put forward by a person referred to in paragraph (
a)or (
b)to give evidence.

(3)All allowances and expenses payable under subsection

(1)are payable by the Bank. Head of Financial Regulation may certify failure to produce document, etc. 40.—

(1)If a person refuses or fails— (

a)to produce a document to the Head of Financial Regulation in accordance with an evidentiary notice, (
b)to provide information to the Head of Financial Regulation, (
c)to attend before the Head of Financial Regulation in accordance with an evidentiary notice, or (
d)to answer a question put to him or her by the Head of Financial Regulation, the Head of Financial Regulation may certify the refusal or failure to the Court.

(2)The Court may, after hearing any witnesses who may be produced against or on behalf of the person alleged to have so refused or failed and any statement which may be offered in defence, make any order or give any direction it thinks fit.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(2), the Court may— (

a)order the person concerned to attend or re-attend before the Head of Financial Regulation, or to produce a particular document, provide particular information or answer a particular question put to him or her by the Head of Financial Regulation, or (
b)order that the person concerned need not produce a particular document, provide particular information or answer a particular question put to him or her by the Head of Financial Regulation. Head of Financial Regulation to prepare report. 41.—

(1)After carrying out an investigation under this Chapter, the Head of Financial Regulation shall prepare a report for consideration by the Bank and the Governor.

(2)The Head of Financial Regulation shall serve a copy of a report prepared in accordance with subsection

(1)on each of— (

a)the person whose fitness and probity was the subject of the relevant investigation, and (
b)any regulated financial service provider concerned.

(3)A copy of a report may be served in any of the ways that a suspension notice may be served.

(4)A person (including a regulated financial service provider) on whom a copy of a report is served pursuant to subsection

(2)may make, within the period specified in accordance with subsection

(5), a submission in writing to the Head of Financial Regulation in relation to any matter in the report.

(5)When the Head of Financial Regulation serves a copy of a report on a person (including a regulated financial service provider) pursuant to subsection

(2), the Head of Financial Regulation shall inform the person in writing of the person’s right under subsection

(4)to make a submission in relation to any matter in the report, and shall specify the period within which the person may do so. The period specified shall be 7 days, or such longer period as the Head of Financial Regulation considers reasonable in all the circumstances. Chapter 4 Prohibition of certain persons from performing controlled functions Definitions (Chapter 4). 42.— In this Chapter— “prohibited person” means a person forbidden, by a prohibition notice, to carry out a controlled function; “prohibition notice” means a notice under section 43 . Bank may prohibit person from carrying out controlled function, etc. 43.—

(1)Subject to subsection

(4), if the Bank or the Governor has reasonably formed the opinion that a person is not of such fitness and probity as is appropriate to perform a particular controlled function, a specified part of a controlled function or any controlled function, the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, may issue a notice in writing (in this Part called a “prohibition notice”) forbidding the person— (

a)to carry out the controlled function, the specified part of a controlled function or any controlled function, as the case requires, or (
b)to carry out the controlled function, the specified part of such a function or any controlled function, as the case requires, otherwise than in accordance with a specified condition or conditions, either for a specified period or indefinitely.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(1), the Bank or the Governor may form the opinion referred to in that subsection if satisfied that— (

a)the person does not have the experience, qualifications or skills necessary to perform properly and effectively the controlled function, the specified part of a controlled function or any controlled function, as the case may be, (
b)the person does not satisfy an applicable standard of fitness and probity in a code issued pursuant to section 50 , (
c)the person has participated in serious misconduct in relation to the business of a regulated financial service provider, (
d)the person has directly or indirectly provided information to the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation (whether pursuant to this Part or otherwise) that the person knew or ought to have known was false or misleading, (
e)the person has directly or indirectly provided information that the person knew or ought to have known was false or misleading to another person in order for it to be provided to the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation, (
f)the person has caused or sought to cause information requested by the Head of Financial Regulation by evidentiary notice from a regulated financial service provider or a person who is carrying out a controlled function not to be provided by the due date, (
g)the person has failed to comply with an evidentiary notice or a suspension notice, or (
h)the person has been convicted of an offence (whether in the State or outside the State) of money laundering or terrorist financing or an offence involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust.

(3)The Bank or the Governor shall not issue a prohibition notice in relation to a person unless— (

a)either— (
i)all of the following requirements have been satisfied: (I) the Head of Financial Regulation has conducted an investigation into the person’s fitness and probity in accordance with this Chapter; (II) section 41 has been complied with in relation to that investigation and the report of it; (III) the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, has considered the report and any submissions made (within the period specified pursuant to section 41

(4)) to the Head of Financial Regulation in relation to any matter in the report, or (

ii)there are undisputed facts that in the reasonable opinion of the Bank or the Governor render an investigation unnecessary, and the person and any regulated financial service provider concerned have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to make a submission in relation to the matter, (
b)the person and the regulated financial service provider have been afforded such a hearing in relation to the proposed issue of the prohibition notice as is necessary to do justice in the circumstances, and (
c)the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that the issue of a prohibition notice is necessary in the circumstances.

(4)When considering whether to issue a prohibition notice, the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, shall have particular regard to— (

a)the need to prevent potential serious damage to the financial system in the State and ensure the continued stability of that system, and (
b)the need to protect users of financial services.

(5)A prohibition notice may be expressed to apply— (

a)to one or more specified controlled functions or parts of controlled functions or all controlled functions, and (
b)in relation to the performance of any such controlled function or part of a controlled function for one or more regulated financial service providers, a class of regulated financial service providers or every regulated financial service provider.

(6)A prohibition notice may be served in any of the ways that a suspension notice may be served.

(7)A prohibition notice— (

a)takes effect on first service on either the prohibited person or the regulated financial service provider concerned, and (
b)if an application is made to the Court under section 45 before the notice ceases to have effect, continues to have effect until that application is determined by the Court or withdrawn. Subject to section 46 , a prohibition notice ceases to have effect at the end of 2 months (or a shorter period specified in the notice) beginning on the day after it is first served as mentioned in paragraph (
a)if no application is made to the Court within that period.

(8)A prohibited person shall not perform a controlled function if doing so would require the person to contravene a prohibition notice served on the person.

(9)A regulated financial service provider shall not permit a prohibited person to perform a controlled function if doing so would require the person to contravene a prohibition notice served on the regulated financial service provider.

(10)The Bank may publish a prohibition notice if, in the opinion of the Governor, it is necessary to do so in order to achieve the purposes of this Part.

(11)A prohibition notice does not alter the contractual rights of any person to remuneration or benefits. Those rights shall continue to be determined in accordance with the relevant contract.

(12)The Bank or the Governor, as the case may be— (

a)shall not continue a prohibition notice for longer than is necessary to achieve those purposes, and (
b)shall not make an application to the Court under section 45 in relation to a prohibition notice unless the Bank or the Governor is satisfied that it is necessary that the notice continue for longer than 2 months to achieve the purposes referred to in subsection

(4). Enforcement of certain prohibition notices. 44.—

(1)Subject to subsection

(2), if— (

a)a person performs a controlled function in contravention of a prohibition notice, or (
b)a regulated financial service provider permits a prohibited person to perform a controlled function in contravention of a prohibition notice, the Head of Financial Regulation may apply ex parte to the Court for an order directing the person or regulated financial service provider to comply with the notice.

(2)This section does not apply in relation to a prohibition notice that has been confirmed by the Court under section 45 . Application to Court to confirm prohibition notice. 45.—

(1)The Bank may apply to the Court in accordance with this section for an order confirming a prohibition notice. Where such an application is made with the consent of the prohibited person concerned, the Court may make an order under this section ex parte.

(2)Without limiting the exercise of the judicial function with respect to a particular case, it shall be the duty of the High Court, in so far as it is practicable, to hear and determine an application under this section within 3 months after the date on which the application is made to it.

(3)If when hearing an application under subsection

(1)the Court is satisfied that, for reasons of confidentiality or commercial sensitivity or in order to avoid the disclosure of information of the kind referred to in section 33AK(1A) of the Act of 1942, the hearing of the Court should be held otherwise than in public, the Court may so order.

(4)The Court may, on the hearing of an application under subsection

(1), consider evidence not adduced or hear an argument not made to the Bank or the Governor, if the Court is satisfied that— (

a)there are cogent reasons justifying the failure to adduce the evidence or make the argument to the Governor or the Bank, and (
b)it is just and equitable for the Court to consider the evidence or hear the argument, as the case may be.

(5)On an application under this section— (a) if the Court is satisfied that there is a reasonable basis (as set out in subsection

(6)) for the opinion of the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, that the prohibited person concerned is not of such fitness and probity as is appropriate to perform the relevant controlled function or part of a controlled function, or any controlled function (as the case may be), the Court may make— (

i)an order confirming the relevant prohibition notice, (
ii)if the Court considers that it is necessary in the interests of justice, or for any other good reason, to vary the prohibition notice, an order varying or limiting it (including by imposing a condition or conditions on the prohibited person or a regulated financial institution concerned), and (iii) any other additional or ancillary order it thinks fit, and (
b)if the Court is not satisfied as provided for in paragraph (a), the Court may make— (
i)an order setting aside the notice, (
ii)an order remitting the matter to the Bank or the Governor for reconsideration in accordance with any directions by the Court (whether or not the Court also sets aside the notice), or (iii) any other order it thinks fit.

(6)For the purposes of subsection

(5)(a), there is a reasonable basis for an opinion if, taking into account the expertise and specialist knowledge possessed by the Bank or the Governor, as the case requires, the opinion (and the process that led to its formation) was not vitiated by— (a) any significant and serious error or series of such errors, (b) a mistake of law, or (c) the evidence, taken as a whole, not supporting the finding.

(7)When considering whether to make an order under subsection

(5), the Court shall have particular regard to— (

a)the need to prevent potential serious damage to the financial system in the State and ensure the continued stability of that system, and (
b)the need to protect users of financial services.

(8)An order under subsection

(5)may be expressed to have effect— (

a)indefinitely, or for a particular period that the Court thinks appropriate, or (
b)until further order of the Court.

(9)A prohibition notice that has been confirmed by the Court (whether or not also varied by the Court) has effect as an order of the Court and may be enforced accordingly.

(10)Section 43 applies to any prohibition notice made by the Bank after reconsideration in accordance with an order referred to in subsection

(5)(b)(ii).

(11)The setting aside by the Court of a prohibition notice does not of itself prevent the further exercise of the powers of the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation under this Part. Agreement between Bank or Governor, prohibited person and regulated financial service provider. 46.—

(1)Where the Bank or the Governor has issued a prohibition notice in relation to a person, the person (and, where at the time of issue of the prohibition notice, the person is performing a controlled function, the regulated financial service provider concerned) may agree in writing with the Bank or the Governor that the person and, where applicable, the regulated financial service provider shall continue to comply with the prohibition notice for such period as is agreed.

(2)Where a person and the Bank or the Governor have agreed as set out in subsection

(1), then— (

a)nothing in section 45 requires the Bank or the Governor to apply for an order under that section, (
b)subject to subsection

(3), and notwithstanding sub section 43

(6), the prohibition notice shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms, and (

c)in the event of a contravention of the agreement— (
i)the Bank may apply to the Court for an order under section 44 , and (
ii)the prohibition notice shall continue in effect in accordance with its terms.

(3)If the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, considers that there is no further need to continue a prohibition notice that is the subject of an agreement under subsection

(1), the Bank or the Governor, as the case may be, may terminate the agreement by written notice to that effect to the prohibited person and any regulated financial service provider concerned. On the giving of such a notice the prohibition notice ceases to have effect. Chapter 5 Miscellaneous Use of information. 47.— The Bank may make use of— (

a)information and evidence gathered by the Head of Financial Regulation in the course of an investigation under Chapter 3 , (
b)anything in any submission made to the Head of Financial Regulation pursuant to section 41 , and (
c)anything in any document or evidence placed before the Court in the course of proceedings under Chapter 3 or 4, for the purposes of any statutory function of the Bank (including, in particular, an inquiry pursuant to Part IIIC of the Act of 1942 and the imposition of sanctions as a result of such an inquiry). Offences of providing false or misleading information, etc. 48.—

(1)A person shall not provide to the Head of Financial Regulation or the Bank, for the purposes of this Part, information that the person knows or ought to know is false or misleading.

(2)A person who is carrying out, or proposes to carry out, a controlled function shall not provide information or a document that the person knows or ought to know is false or misleading to a regulated financial service provider with a view to the information or document being provided to the Head of Financial Regulation or the Bank for the purposes of this Part.

(3)A person shall not give the Head of Financial Regulation or the Bank, for the purposes of this Part, a document (whether in response to an evidentiary notice or otherwise) that the person knows or ought to know is false or misleading or is not what it purports to be.

(4)A person (in this subsection called the “examinee”) who is appearing before the Head of Financial Regulation shall not, in an answer to a question put by the Head of Financial Regulation or another person with the consent of the Head of Financial Regulation, make a statement that the examinee knows or ought to know is false or misleading in a material particular.

(5)A person who contravenes subsection

(1),

(2),

(3)or

(4)commits an offence. Penalties for offences under this Part. 49.— A person guilty of an offence under this Part is liable— (

a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both, or (
b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both. Standards of fitness and probity. 50.— The Bank may issue a code setting out standards of fitness and probity for the purposes of this Part. Effect of this Part. 51.—

(1)Nothing in this Part affects any other power of the Bank in relation to the fitness and probity of persons who are officers of, or responsible for the management of, financial service providers.

(2)The Bank may have regard to a document or information gathered or received otherwise than under this Part for any purpose under this Part. Appointment of nominees, etc., for purposes of this Part. 52.—

(1)The Governor may at his or her discretion appoint a suitably qualified person (including a person who is not an officer or employee of the Bank) to perform a function of the Governor under this Part if the Governor considers it necessary or appropriate to do so to ensure that the functions of the Governor under this Part are performed efficiently and effectively.

(2)The Head of Financial Regulation may at his or her discretion appoint a suitably qualified person (including a person who is not an officer or employee of the Bank) to perform a function (or any part of a function) of the Head of Financial Regulation under this Part if the Head of Financial Regulation considers it necessary or appropriate to do so to ensure that the functions of the Head of Financial Regulation under this Part are performed efficiently and effectively.

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of subsections

(1)and

(2), the power to appoint a person to perform a function in accordance with either of those subsections includes the power to appoint the person to do any one or more of the following: (

a)form an opinion required by this Part to be formed by the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation (as the case may be); (
b)make an application to the Court; (
c)certify a matter to the Court. Regulations — facilitation of performance of functions. 53.—

(1)The Minister may, in respect of any difficulty that arises in the operation of this Act during the period of 2 years beginning on the date this section comes into operation, make regulations to do anything that appears necessary or expedient for bringing this Act into operation.

(2)The Bank may make regulations setting out procedures to be followed in the exercise of the powers of the Bank, the Governor or the Head of Financial Regulation under this Part.

(3)Regulations made by the Bank under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Bank to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(4)Sections 61C and 61D of the Act of 1942 apply to regulations made under this Part. SCHEDULE 1 Amendments of Central Bank Acts Section 14 . PART 1 Amendments of Central Bank Act 1942 Section 14

(1). Item Provision affected Amendment 1 Section 2

(1)After the definition of “Appeals Tribunal”, insert: “ ‘ appointed member’ or ‘appointed member of the Commission’ means a member of the Commission referred to in section 18CA

(1)(b);”. 2 Section 2

(1), definition of “appointed Director” Delete. 3 Section 2

(1), definitions of “Bank” and “Board” Substitute: “ ‘ Bank ’ means the Central Bank of Ireland;”. 4 Section 2

(1), definition of “Chief Executive” Substitute: “ ‘ Commission ’ means the Central Bank Commission;”. 5 Section 2

(1), definitions of “constituent part” and “Consumer Director” Delete. 6 Section 2

(1), definition of “designated enactments” Substitute: “ ‘ designated enactments ’ means, subject to subsection (2A), the enactments specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2;”. 7 Section 2

(1), definition of “Director” Delete. 8 Section 2

(1), definition of “employee” Delete “Secretary to the Bank”, substitute “Secretary of the Bank”. 9 Section 2

(1)After the definition of “ESCB Statute”, insert: “ ‘ex-officio member’ or ‘ex-officio member of the Commission’ means a member of the Commission referred to in section 18CA

(1)(a);”. 10 Section 2

(1), definition of “general fund” Substitute: “ ‘ general fund ’ means the fund referred to in section 32F;”. 11 Section 2

(1), definition of “Governor”, paragraph (b) Delete “Director General of the Bank”, substitute “Head of Central Banking”. 12 Section 2

(1)After the definition of “Governor”, insert: “ ‘ Head of Central Banking ’, ‘ Head of Financial Regu lation ’ and ‘ Head of Function ’ shall be construed in accordance with section 23;”. 13 Section 2

(1)After the definition of “ local authority”, insert: “ ‘ member’ or ‘member of the Commission’ means an appointed member or an ex-officio member;”. 14 Section 2

(1), definition of “officer” Substitute: “ ‘ officer ’ means each Head of Function, the Secretary of the Bank and the Registrar of Credit Unions;”. 15 Section 2

(1), definition of “official Director” Delete. 16 Section 2

(1), definition of “regulated financial service provider” Substitute: “ ‘ regulated financial service provider ’ means— (

a)a financial service provider whose business is subject to regulation by the Bank under this Act or under a designated enactment or a designated statutory instrument, (
b)a financial service provider whose business is subject to regulation by an authority that performs functions in an EEA country that are comparable to the functions performed by the Bank under this Act or under a designated enactment or designated statutory instrument, or (
c)in relation to Part VIIB only, any other financial service provider of a class specified in the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph;”. 17 Section 2

(1), definition of “Regulatory Authority” Delete. 18 Section 2

(1), definition of “Rome Treaty” Substitute: “ ‘ Rome Treaty ’ means the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union done at Rome on 25 March 1957, as amended by the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community signed at Lisbon on 13 December 2007;”. 19 Section 2 After subsection

(2), insert: “(2A) Commission Regulations (EC) No. 1287/2006 1 and (EC) No. 924/2009 2 shall be taken to be designated enactments.”. 20 Section 5 Substitute: “Establishment of Central Bank of Ireland. 5.—

(1)The body corporate formerly called the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland is continued in existence under the name ‘Central Bank of Ireland’.

(2)The Bank— (

a)has perpetual succession, and (
b)may take legal proceedings and be proceeded against in its corporate name.

(3)The Bank is required to have a seal. The seal shall be judicially noticed.

(4)Except as expressly provided by this Act, the affairs and activities of the Bank are to be managed and controlled by the Central Bank Commission.”. 21 Section 5A Substitute: “General functions and powers of the Bank. 5A.—

(1)The Bank has the following functions: (

a)to carry out the efficient and effective co-ordination of— (
i)the activities of the Bank, (
ii)activities undertaken by persons who provide services to, or receive services from, the Bank, and (iii) the exchange of information between the Bank and any of those persons; (
b)where appropriate, to represent and co-ordinate the representation of the Bank on international financial bodies and at international meetings relating to financial or economic matters; (
c)to establish and maintain, either directly or indirectly, contact with the monetary authorities established in other countries and in territories; (
d)whenever it thinks fit, to provide governments of, and financial institutions and other bodies established in, other countries and in territories with advice or other assistance on matters within its expertise; (
e)the function of holding an inquiry under Part IIIC; (
f)the function of monitoring the provision of financial services to consumers of those services to the extent that the Bank considers appropriate, for the purposes of protecting the public interest and the interests of consumers; (
g)to provide for the collection and study of data that deal with monetary and credit problems and to publish information about that data; (
h)to provide advice and assistance to the Central Statistics Office about the collection, compilation, analysis and interpretation of statistics relating to the balance of payments, national accounts and other financial statistics and, where appropriate, to collect data for that purpose; (
i)to perform such other functions as are imposed on it by or under this and any other Act orlaw.

(2)The Bank has power to do whatever is necessary for or in connection with, or reasonably incidental to, the performance of its functions.

(3)In particular, the powers of the Bank include powers of a kind that, in accordance with normal banking practice, may be exercised by a bank.

(4)The functions of the Agency specified in subsection

(5)are, in so far as they relate to a financial service provided by a regulated financial service provider, also functions of the Bank and subsections

(6)to

(8)have effect for the purposes of this subsection.

(5)The functions of the Agency referred to in subsection

(4)are the following functions of it under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 , namely, functions under— (a) subsections

(1),

(4),

(5)and

(6)of section 8 of that Act in relation to— (

i)sections 41 to 49 and 51 to 56 of that Act,and (
ii)the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations 1995 and 2000 ( S.I. No. 27 of 1995 and S.I. No. 307 of 2000 ), and (
b)sections 30, 71, 72, 73, 75, 81, 82, 84, 86, 88 and 90 of that Act.

(6)Subsection

(4)operates to vest in the Bank, concurrently with the vesting in the Agency of those functions by the Consumer Protection Act 2007 , the functions specified in subsection

(5).

(7)Accordingly— (

a)the functions so specified are, subject to any relevant co-operation agreement entered into under section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 , capable of being performed by either the Agency or the Bank, and (
b)subject to subsection

(9), references to the Agency in the provisions of that Act specified in subsection

(5)are to be read as including references to the Bank and those provisions otherwise apply.

(8)Subject to subsection

(9), sections 80 , 85 and 87 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 apply to the Bank as they apply to the Agency and, accordingly, references to the Agency in those sections are to be read as including references to the Bank.

(9)Where any section of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 specified in subsection

(5)or

(8)provides for anything to be done in relation to the Agency (whether the giving of notice to it, the submitting of a thing to it or the doing of any other thing) then, if a co-operation agreement entered into under section 21 of that Act so specifies, it is sufficient compliance with the section concerned if the thing is done in relation to the Agency or the Bank as is specified in that agreement.

(10)The Bank is required to perform its functions and exercise its powers in a manner consistent with the Rome Treaty and the ESCB Statute.

(11)Subject to subsection

(10), the Bank shall perform its functions and exercise its powers in a way that is consistent with— (

a)the orderly and proper functioning of financial markets, (
b)the prudential supervision of providers of financial services, and (
c)the public interest and the interest of consumers.

(12)The Bank can perform its functions and exercise its powers both within the State and elsewhere.”. 22 After section 5B, insert: “Supplementary powers of Bank with respect to certain responsibilities. 5C.—

(1)To enable the Bank to carry out its responsibilities, the Bank may— (

a)undertake studies, analyses and surveys with respect to the provision of relevant financial services to consumers, (
b)collect and compile information for that purpose, and (
c)publish the results of any such studies, analyses or surveys.

(2)In undertaking such a study, analysis or survey, the Bank— (

a)may, by notice in writing, require any person who, in the opinion of the Bank, has information, or has control of a record or other thing, that is relevant to the study, analysis or survey, to provide the information, record or thing to the Bank, and (
b)may, by the same or another notice in writing, require the person to attend before an officer or employee of the Bank for that purpose.

(3)Subject to section 33AK, if the Agency is of the opinion that information obtained by the Bank pursuant to subsections

(1)and

(2)is relevant to the exercise of that Agency’s functions under section 8

(3)(ha) of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 , the Bank shall provide the requested information to the Agency at the Agency’s request.

(4)A person commits an offence if the person— (a) intentionally prevents the Bank from exercising a power conferred by subsection

(1), (

b)intentionally obstructs or hinders the Bank in the exercise of such a power, (
c)without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement made to the person in accordance with subsection

(2), or (d) in purporting to comply with a requirement made under subsection

(2)to provide information, provides the Bank with information that the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, is false or misleading in a material respect.

(5)The Head of Financial Regulation may, in writing, authorise an officer or employee of the Bank to investigate the business, or any aspect of the business, of a financial service provider who has been required under this section to provide information, or a record or other thing. Such an officer or employee may take whatever steps are necessary for or in connection with carrying out such an investigation.

(6)A financial service provider who— (a) without reasonable excuse, fails to co-operate with an investigation carried out under subsection

(5), or (b) intentionally prevents such an investigation from being carried out, or intentionally obstructs or hinders the investigation, commits an offence.

(7)A person who is convicted of an offence under this section is liable— (

a)on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €30,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both, or (
b)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.

(8)Summary proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought and prosecuted by the Bank, but not to the exclusion of any other person who is authorised to bring and prosecute summary offences.”. 23 Section 6 After subsection

(1), insert: “(1A) Nothing in the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010 affects the independence of the Bank, the Governor and the Commission required by the Rome Treaty and the ESCB Statute. (1B) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1A), nothing in the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2010 authorises any person or authority to give any direction to, or require any action (including the provision of information) by, the Bank, the Governor or the Commission if compliance by the Bank, the Governor or the Commission (as the case may be) with the direction or requirement would be inconsistent with the Rome Treaty or the ESCB Statute.”. 24 Subsections

(2)and

(3)of section 6A Substitute: “

(2)The Bank also has the following objectives: (

a)the stability of the financial system overall; (
b)the proper and effective regulation of financial service providers and markets, while ensuring that the best interests of consumers of financial services are protected; (
c)the efficient and effective operation of payment and settlement systems; (
d)the provision of analysis and comment to support national economic policy development; (
e)the discharge of such other functions and powers as are conferred on it by law.

(3)The Minister may, from time to time, request the Governor or the Commission to consult with the Minister, in relation to their respective functions, as regards the performance by the Bank of any function of the Bank (other than one imposed on it by the Rome Treaty or the ESCB Statute).”. 25 Section 6A

(5)Substitute: “

(5)The Governor or the Commission (as the case requires) shall comply with a request to the Governor or the Commission under subsection

(3)or

(4)in so far as the request is consistent with the Rome Treaty, the ESCB Statute and the law of the State.”. 26 Sections 6B to 6E Substitute: “Bank’s power to hold and deal in land, etc. 6B.—

(1)For the purpose of enabling the Bank to perform its functions, the Bank— (

a)may acquire and hold land, and (
b)may build, establish, equip and maintain offices and other premises, in such places, whether in the State or elsewhere, as it considers appropriate.

(2)The Commission is responsible for administering the provision of accommodation and office and other equipment with a view to enabling the Bank to perform and exercise its functions and powers.

(3)The Bank may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of land held by the Bank whenever the Commission considers that the land is no longer required for the purpose of enabling the Bank to perform its functions.

(4)In this section ‘acquire’ includes acquire by purchase, lease or exchange. Staff of Bank. 6D.—

(1)Subject to this section, the Commission shall appoint a Secretary of the Bank and such other employees of the Bank as they consider necessary for the effective performance and exercise of the functions and powers of the Bank.

(2)The Commission is responsible for administering the staff of the Bank with a view to enabling the Bank to perform and exercise its functions and powers.

(3)Except as regards the appointment of a Secretary of the Bank, the Governor has the same power to appoint employees of the Bank as the Commission has under subsection

(1), but that power is only exercisable in relation to responsibilities specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection

(1), and subsection

(2), of section 19A.

(4)Employees appointed under subsection

(3)are taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been appointed under subsection

(1).

(5)The employees of the Bank are to be employed on such conditions (including conditions as to remuneration and allowances) as the Commission fixes from time to time.

(6)Subject to subsection

(8), an appointment under this section shall be made by competition to be conducted in accordance with rules made by the Commission.

(7)The Commission may, in relation to a particular competition, impose conditions of entry, limitations and safeguards.

(8)Subsection

(6)does not apply to an appointment to a position if the Commission decides that appointment to the position by competition would be inappropriate.

(9)The Commission shall establish and operate a policy under which provision is made for employees of the Bank to be given opportunities for training and experience in various activities of the Bank.”. 27 Section 10 Substitute: “Seal of Bank. 10.—

(1)The seal of the Bank shall be kept in such custody as the Commission directs.

(2)The seal of the Bank may be used only as authorised— (

a)if the seal is to be used in relation to a function or power of the Bank that is to be performed or exercised by the Commission, by the Commission, or (
b)if the seal is to be used in relation to a function or power of the Bank that is to be performed or exercised by the Governor, by the Governor.

(3)The seal of the Bank shall be authenticated by— (

a)the signature of the Governor or a member of the Commission authorised in that behalf by the Commission, and (
b)the counter-signature of the Secretary of the Bank or some other officer or employee of the Bank authorised in that behalf by the Commission.

(4)A document purporting to be made or issued by the Bank and to be sealed with the seal of the Bank authenticated in accordance with subsection

(3)is admissible in evidence and shall be taken to have been made or issued by the Bank until the contrary is proved, without proof of the signature or authority of any person purporting to have signed or counter-signed it.”. 28 Sections 18B to 18D Substitute: “Functions of Central Bank Commission. 18B.—

(1)Except as expressly provided otherwise by this Act, the affairs and activities of the Bank shall be managed and controlled by the Central Bank Commission.

(2)The Commission shall ensure that the Bank’s central banking functions and financial regulation functions areintegrated and coordinated.

(3)Without prejudice to section 19A, the Commission shall ensure that the powers and functions conferred on the Bank by sections 5A, 5B and 5C are properly exercised and discharged.

(4)The performance and exercise of the functions and powers of the Commission are not affected by there being one or more vacancies in the membership of the Commission. Acts, etc., of Commission to be acts, etc., of Bank. 18C.—Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Bank by the Commission in the performance or exercise of the Commission’s functions or powers shall be taken to have been done by the Bank. Membership of Commission. 18CA.—

(1)The Commission comprises— (

a)the persons for the time being holding or performing the duties of the following offices: (
i)Governor; (
ii)Head of Central Banking; (iii) Head of Financial Regulation; (
iv)Secretary General of the Department of Finance, and (
b)at least 6, but no more than 8, other members appointed by the Minister.

(2)The Governor is the Chairperson of the Commission. Additional powers of Commission. 18D.—

(1)The Commission has power to do whatever is necessary for or in connection with, or reasonably incidental to, the performance of its functions.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(1)and subject to subsection

(3), the Commission— (

a)may establish committees of the Commission consisting of one or more members of the Commission either solely or together with one or more officers or employees of the Bank, and (
b)may determine the procedure and define the functions and powers of such committees.

(3)Subsection

(2)does not authorise the Commission to delegate to a committee any function of the Bank that a provision of this Act requires to be performed by the Governor. Bank may establish advisory groups. 18E.—

(1)Subject to subsection

(2), the Bank may establish an advisory group or groups to advise it on the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers and shall in particular establish the following: (

a)an advisory group to advise the Bank on the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers in relation to consumers of financial services; (
b)an advisory group to advise the Bank, where the Bank so requests, on the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers in relation to credit unions.

(2)The Bank shall not establish an advisory group in relation to the Governor’s ESCB-related functions.

(3)Subject to subsection

(4), an advisory group established under subsection

(1)shall be made up of persons who have expertise, knowledge or experience relevant to the functions of the advisory group concerned, and may include members of the Commission, officers of the Bank or employees of the Bank.

(4)The advisory group (in this section called ‘ the con sumer advisory group ’) established to advise the Bank on the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers in relation to consumers of financial services shall not include members of the Commission, officers of the Bank or employees of the Bank.

(5)The consumer advisory group shall advise the Bank on the exercise of the Bank’s powers and the performance of the Bank’s functions in relation to the consumers of financial services and in particular in relation to— (

a)the effects of the Bank’s Strategic Plans on consumers of financial services, (
b)initiatives aimed at further enhancing the protection of consumers of financial services, and (
c)if the Bank so requests, documents, consultation papers or other materials prepared by the Bank.

(6)The period for which a member of the consumer advisory group is appointed may be up to 3 years. A member is eligible for re-appointment.

(7)The Bank shall determine the manner in which, and the reasons for which, a member of an advisory group may be removed from membership of the advisory group.

(8)The Bank shall provide an advisory group with such administrative services and funds as the Bank believes necessary to carry out its functions. Delegation of certain functions of Commission, etc. 18F.—

(1)Subject to subsection

(3), the Commission may delegate to the Governor, a Head of Function or an employee of the Bank any function or power of the Commission, if the Commission considers it appropriate to do so in the interests of the efficient and effective management of the Bank and the exercise of its powers and functions.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection

(1), the Commission may in particular— (a) delegate to a specified person or body (including a committee established under section 18D

(2)) the performance or exercise of any one or more of the functions and powers of the Commission; (

b)impose conditions, limitations, or restrictions on the performance or exercise by any such person or body of functions or powers delegated under this subsection; (
c)provide in appropriate cases for the review by the Commission of decisions taken or things done by any such person or body in the performance or exercise of any function or power so delegated.

(3)Subsection

(2)does not authorise the Commission to delegate to a committee any function of the Bank that a provision of this Act requires to be performed by the Governor.”. 29 Section 19A

(3)Substitute: “

(3)Subject to the requirements of the Rome Treaty and the ESCB Statute, the Governor shall provide the Commission with information about, and may discuss with the Commission, the performance by the Governor of the functions and powers referred to in subsections

(1)and

(2).”. 30 Section 19B Substitute: “Decisions about certain issues involving Treaties governing European Union and ESCB Statute. 19B.—Where the Commission is considering a budgetary or funding issue relating to the Bank, and in the opinion of the Governor the issue has implications for the independence of the Bank or the performance by the Governor of the functions conferred on the Governor and the Bank by or under the treaties governing the European Union (within the meaning given by section 1 of the European Communities Act 1972 as amended by section 2 of the European Communities Act 2009 ) or the ESCB Statute, the Governor shall so inform the Commission and thereafter— (a) the Commission shall cease to consider the issue, (b) the Governor has the sole right to determine the issue, and (c) the Governor’s decision is final.”. 31 Section 21

(2)Delete “if the other members of the Board have passed a unanimous resolution requesting the President to remove the Governor from office”. 32 Section 22

(1)Delete “Directors”, substitute “members”. 33 Section 22

(2)Delete “Directors”, substitute “members”. 34 Subsections

(3)to

(7)of section 22 Substitute: “

(3)If the office of Governor becomes vacant, the Commission may appoint another member of the Commission to act as Governor to carry out the designated responsibilities of the Governor during the vacancy. A member so appointed shall not continue to act after the end of 3 months from the occurrence of the vacancy which occasioned his or her appointment.

(4)A member appointed under this section, while acting as Governor, has the designated responsibilities of the office of Governor and also the powers relating to the carrying out of those responsibilities.

(5)A member appointed under this section to act as Governor is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Commission determines from time to time.

(6)A member appointed under this section to act as Governor does not, by reason of that appointment, vacate his or her office as a member.

(7)This section does not apply to responsibilities of the Governor that are required, by virtue of section 22A, to be carried out by the Head of Central Banking in any of the circumstances specified in that section.”. 35 Section 22A Delete “Director General of the Bank”, substitute “Head of Central Banking”. 36 Sections 23 to 25 Substitute: “Heads of Function. 23.—

(1)In this Act a reference to the Heads of Function is a reference to the Head of Central Banking and the Head of Financial Regulation.

(2)With the consent of the Minister, the Commission may substitute another title for either or both of the titles ‘Head of Central Banking’ and ‘Head of Financial Regulation’. If the Commission does so, the Commission shall cause a notice of the substitution to be published in the Iris Oifigiúil. The substitution has effect only on and after the date of that publication.

(3)If the Commission substitutes a title in accordance with subsection

(2), a reference in this Act or in any other enactment or statutory instrument to the title ‘Head of Central Banking’ or ‘Head of Financial Regulation’, as the case may be, shall be construed in accordance with the substitution. Responsibilities of Heads of Function. 23A.—Subject to section 22A, the responsibilities of a Head of Function are those assigned to the office concerned by the Commission. Appointment of Heads of Function. 23B.—

(1)The Commission shall, with the consent of the Minister, appoint suitably qualified persons as Heads of Function.

(2)Subject to subsection

(3), an appointment as a Head of Function shall be made by open competition.

(3)Subsection

(2)does not apply to the appointment of a Head of Function if the Commission, with the consent of the Minister, decides that appointment to the office by open competition would be inappropriate.

(4)A person is not eligible for appointment as a Head of Function if he or she— (

a)is a member of either House of the Oireachtas, (
b)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member or is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
c)is a member of the European Parliament or is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member or to fill a vacancy in the membership of that Parliament, or (
d)is a member of a local authority or is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member. Terms of appointment of Heads of Function. 23C.—

(1)An appointment as a Head of Function has effect from the date on which the Minister consents to the appointment or a later date agreed between the Commission and the person appointed.

(2)Subject to subsections

(3)and

(6), a Head of Function holds office for up to 5 years, as the Minister approves at the time of the Head of Function’s appointment, and is eligible for reappointment provided that the total term in office of a person appointed as a Head of Function shall not exceed 10 years.

(3)The following do not count towards determining the period for which a person has held office as a Head of Function: (

a)any period during which the person was acting in either office of Head of Function; (
b)any period during which the person held the other office of Head of Function.

(4)A Head of Function shall receive such remuneration and allowances, and is subject to such conditions of service, as the Commission from time to time determines.

(5)A person appointed as a Head of Function may engage in other remunerative employment only with the consent of the Commission.

(6)A person ceases to hold office as a Head of Function if he or she— (

a)dies, (
b)completes a term of office and is notre-appointed, (
c)resigns the office by notice in writing addressed to the Governor, (
d)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
e)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of the European Parliament or to fill a vacancy in the membership of that Parliament, (
f)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of a local authority, (
g)is adjudged bankrupt (either in the State or elsewhere) or enters into a composition with the person’s creditors, (
h)becomes physically or mentally incapable of performing the duties of the relevant office of Head of Function, (
i)is convicted of an offence (either in the State or elsewhere) and sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment for the offence, or (
j)is removed from office under subsection

(7).

(7)The Commission may remove or suspend a Head of Function from office, but only for reasons previously notified in writing to the Head of Function concerned. Acting Heads of Function. 23D.—

(1)In the event of— (

a)the illness or absence of a Head of Function, (
b)the suspension from office of the holder of such an office, or (
c)a vacancy in such an office, the Governor, with the consent of the other members of the Commission, may appoint a member of the Commission or an officer or employee of the Bank to act in the relevant office.

(2)A person acting as a Head of Function has, while acting in that office, all the responsibilities and powers of that office.

(3)The other members of the Commission may at any time remove from office a person who is acting as a Head of Function.

(4)If a person is to act as a Head of Function for a period of more than 6 months, the appointment does not take effect until the Minister approves it. A person acting as a Head of Function shall not continue to so act for more than 6 months without the consent of the Minister.

(5)A person acting as a Head of Function is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Commission determines from time to time. Appointment of members of Commission. 24.—

(1)The Minister may appoint a person as a member of the Commission if and only if the Minister is of the opinion that the person has relevant knowledge of— (

a)accountancy, (
b)actuarial science, (
c)banking, (
d)consumer interests, (
e)corporate governance, (
f)economics, (
g)financial control, (
h)financial regulation, (
i)financial services, (
j)insurance, (
k)law, (
l)social policy, or (
m)systems control.

(2)A person is not eligible for appointment as a member of the Commission if he or she— (

a)is a member of either House of the Oireachtas, (
b)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member or is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
c)is a member of the European Parliament or is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member or to fill a vacancy in the membership of that Parliament, or (
d)is a member of a local authority or is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as such a member. Remuneration, etc., of appointed members of Commission. 24A.—An appointed member of the Commission is entitled to receive such remuneration and allowances, and is subject to such conditions of service, as the Minister from time to time determines. Tenure of office of members of Commission. 24B.—

(1)An ex-officio member of the Commission holds office as such for as long as he or she holds or performs the duties of the office by virtue of which he or she is such a member.

(2)Subject to subsections

(3)and

(4), an appointed member of the Commission holds office as such for a period of 5 years unless he or she previously ceases to hold that office in accordance with a provision of this Part.

(3)Of the first 8 persons appointed as members of the Commission— (

a)2 or 3 of those persons shall be appointed for a first term of 5 years, (
b)2 or 3 of those persons shall be appointed for a first term of 4 years, and (
c)2 or 3 of those persons shall be appointed for a first term of 3 years.

(4)An appointed member of the Commission shall not be entitled to serve more than 2 terms of office. Vacation of office of members of Commission. 25.—

(1)A person ceases to be an ex-officio member of the Commission if he or she ceases to hold or perform the duties of the office by virtue of which he or she is such a member.

(2)An appointed member of the Commission ceases to be an appointed member if he or she— (

a)dies, (
b)completes a term of office and is not re-appointed, (
c)resigns the office by notice in writing addressed to the Governor, (
d)has, without the permission of the other members, been absent from meetings of the Commission for a consecutive period of 6 months, (
e)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of either House of the Oireachtas or is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, (
f)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of the European Parliament or to fill a vacancy in the membership of that Parliament, (
g)is, with his or her consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of a local authority, (
h)is adjudged bankrupt (either in the State or elsewhere) or enters into a composition with the person’s creditors, (
i)becomes physically or mentally incapable of performing the duties of a member of the Commission, (
j)is convicted of an offence (either in the State or elsewhere) and sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment for the offence, or (
k)is removed from office under subsection

(3).

(3)The Minister may remove an appointed member of the Commission from office— (

a)for proven misconduct or incompetence, or (
b)if in the Minister’s opinion it is necessary or desirable to do so to enable the Commission to function effectively.”. 37 Section 28 Substitute: “Filling of vacancies in Commission. 28.—As soon as practicable after an appointed member of the Commission ceases to hold office, the Minister shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.”. 38 Section 32 Delete “Board”, substitute “Commission”. 39 Part IIIA, Chapters 1 and 2 Substitute: “PART IIIA Management, finance, and accountability Chapter 1A Management Framework for assignment of responsibilities. 32A.—

(1)The Governor shall propose to the Commission a plan of the assignment of responsibility for specified powers and functions of the Bank to himself or herself, a Head of Function or an officer or employee of the Bank.

(2)Where appropriate, the assignment of the responsibility for the performance of a function requires the person to whom the function is assigned— (

a)to provide policy advice in relation to the subject matter of the assignment and related matters, (
b)to achieve any outputs specified in the assignment, (
c)to accept responsibility for the operation of statutory schemes or programmes specified in the assignment, (
d)to accept responsibility for the delivery of quality services pursuant to the assignment, (
e)to ensure that the expenditure in r

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.