Central Bank Reform Act 2010
Number 23 of 2010
CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 27 June 2023
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Central Bank Reform Act 2010. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the Civil Defence Act 2023 (17/2023), enacted 26 June 2023, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 349 of 2023), made 27 June 2023, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number 23 of 2010
CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 27 June 2023
Introduction
This Revised Act presents the text of the Act as it has been amended since enactment, and preserves the format in which it was passed.
Related legislation
Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2018: this Act is one of a group of Acts included in this collective citation (Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2018 (36/2018), s. 3(2)). The Acts in the group are:
• Central Bank Act 1942 (22/1942)
• Central Bank Act 1961 (8/1961)
• Central Bank Act 1971 (24/1971)
• Central Bank Act 1989 (16/1989), Part II
• Central Bank Act 1997 (8/1997), other than ss. 3, 36 to 49, 60, 64 to 68, 78 to 83 and 85
• Central Bank Act 1998 (2/1998)
• Euro Changeover (Amounts) Act 2001 (16/2001), s. 5 and s. 9(4)
• Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2003 (12/2003)
• Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004 (21/2004)
• National Asset Management Agency Act 2009 (34/2009), s. 1(4), s. 232 and sch. 3 part 2
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (23/2010)
• Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) Act 2011 (27/2011)
• Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012 (40/2012), ss. 36, 37, 48(2) and 56(3), Part 5 (in so far as it amends Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2011), and Schs. 2 and 3 (in so far as they amend Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2011)
• Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (26/2013)
• Central Bank Act 2014 (9/2014), s. 1
• Central Bank (Amendment) Act 2015 (1/2015), s. 1
• Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2015 (21/2015), other than s. 8
• Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Act 2018 (36/2018)
Acts previously included in the group but now repealed are:
• Central Bank Act 1964 (3/1964)
Annotations
This Revised Act is annotated and includes textual and non-textual amendments, statutory instruments made pursuant to the Act and previous affecting provisions.
An explanation of how to read annotations is available at
www.lawreform.ie/annotations.
Material not updated in this revision
Where other legislation is amended by this Act, those amendments may have been superseded by other amendments in other legislation, or the amended legislation may have been repealed or revoked. This information is not represented in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the amended legislation if one is available.
Where legislation or a fragment of legislation is referred to in annotations, changes to this legislation or fragment may not be reflected in this revision but will be reflected in a revision of the legislation referred to if one is available.
A list of legislative changes to any Act, and to statutory instruments from 1972, may be found linked from the page of the Act or statutory instrument at
www.irishstatutebook.ie.
Acts which affect or previously affected this revision
• Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023 (5/2023)
• Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 (22/2017)
• Central Bank Act 2014 (9/2014)
• Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (26/2013)
• Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 (20/2013)
• Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012 (40/2012)
• Criminal Justice Act 2011 (22/2011)
• Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010 (36/2010)
• Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (6/2010)
All Acts up to and including Civil Defence Act 2023 (17/2023), enacted 26 June 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Statutory instruments which affect or previously affected this revision
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Procedures Governing the Conduct of Investigations) Regulations 2023 (S.I. No. 190 of 2023)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 169 of 2022)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 410 of 2020)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22 - Credit Unions) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 187 of 2018)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 545 of 2015)
• European Union (Bank Recovery and Resolution) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 289 of 2015)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22 - Credit Unions that are also authorised as Retail Intermediaries) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 97 of 2015)
• European Union (Single Supervisory Mechanism) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 495 of 2014)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 394 of 2014)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 360 of 2013)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Application of Part 3 to Credit Unions) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 378 of 2012)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Procedures Governing the Conduct of Investigations) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 56 of 2012)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 615 of 2011)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Sections 20 and 22) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 437 of 2011)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 686 of 2010)
• Central Bank Reform Act 2010 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 469 of 2010)
All statutory instruments up to and including Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act 2023 (Commencement of Certain Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 349 of 2023), made 27 June 2023, were considered in the preparation of this revision.
Number 23 of 2010
CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 27 June 2023
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary
Section
1. Short title and collective citation.
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.
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.
16. Amendments of statutory instruments.
17. Construction of certain references.
Powers of Bank in relation to financial service providers
Powers of Bank in relation to officers, etc., of financial service providers
Preliminary
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.
23A. Notification and approval of appointment.
Suspension and investigation of fitness and probity of persons performing controlled functions, etc.
25. Head of Financial Regulation may investigate persons’ fitness and probity.
25A. Notice of investigation’ 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.
Prohibition of certain persons from performing controlled functions
43. Bank may prohibit person from carrying out controlled function, etc.
44. Enforcement of certain prohibition notices. (Repealed)
45. Application to Court to confirm prohibition notice.
45A. Application to vary or revoke prohibition notice.
46. Agreement between Bank or Governor, prohibited person and regulated financial service provider.
Miscellaneous
48. Offences of providing false or misleading information, etc.
49. Penalties for offences under this Part.
49A. Service of notices and other documents.
50. Standards of fitness and probity.
52. Appointment of nominees, etc., for purposes of this Part.
52A. Independence of decision-makers.
53. Regulations — facilitation of performance of functions.
Duty of responsibility and conduct standards
53A. Interpretation (Part 3A).
53C. Duty to take steps to meet conduct standards.
53D. Relevant circumstances for purposes of sections 53B and 53C.
53E. Common conduct standards.
53F. Additional conduct standards.
53G. Guidelines on conduct standards.
53H. Notification and training for persons subject to conduct standards.
53I. Limitation of requirements to produce documents, give information or answer questions.
Overseas Regulators
54. Co-operation with overseas regulators.
Authorised Officers
55. Definitions (Part 5). (Repealed)
56. Persons to whom this Part applies. (Repealed)
57. Appointment of authorised officers. (Repealed)
58. Warrant of appointment. (Repealed)
59. Power of authorised officer to enter premises. (Repealed)
60. Powers of authorised officer. (Repealed)
61. Warrant required to enter premises. (Repealed)
62. Authorised officer may attend meetings. (Repealed)
63. Production of record subject to legal professional privilege not required. (Repealed)
64. Disclosure or production not to be treated as breach or to affect lien. (Repealed)
65. Failure to comply with a requirement. (Repealed)
66. Offence of obstruction or provision of false information. (Repealed)
Amendments of Central Bank Acts
Amendments of Central Bank Act 1942
Provisions of the Central Bank Act 1942 repealed
Amendments of Central Bank Act 1971
Amendments of Central Bank Act 1989
Amendments of Central Bank Act 1997
Amendment of Central Bank Act 1998
Amendments of other Acts
Amendments of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009
Amendments of Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003
Amendments of Company Law Enforcement Act 2001
Amendments of Consumer Credit Act 1995
Amendments of Consumer Protection Act 2007
Amendments of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008
Amendments of Credit Union Act 1997
Amendments of Disability Act 2005
Amendments of Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006
Amendments of Insurance Act 1989
Amendments of National Asset Management Agency Act 2009
Amendments of Official Languages Act 2003
Amendment of Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003
Enactments amended by substituting “Central Bank of Ireland” for “Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland”
Amendments of statutory instruments
Amendments of Ethics in Public Office (Prescribed Public Bodies, Designated Directorships of Public Bodies and Designated Positions in Public Bodies) Regulations 2004
Amendments of European Communities (Consumer Credit Agreements) Regulations 2010
Amendments of European Communities (Cooperation between National Authorities Responsible for the Enforcement of Consumer Protection Laws) Regulations 2006
Amendments of European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2003
Amendments of Market Abuse (Directive 2003/6/EC) Regulations 2005
Amendments of Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005
Amendment of Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007
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 |
|
2009, No. 1 |
|
2001, No. 47 |
|
Assurance Companies Act 1909 |
9 Edw 7, c. 49 |
1989, No. 17 |
|
2007, No. 12 |
|
2001, No. 19 |
|
1942, No. 22 |
|
1971, No. 24 |
|
1989, No. 16 |
|
1997, No. 8 |
|
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 |
|
2004, No. 23 |
|
1990, No. 27 |
|
2003, No. 44 |
|
1963, No. 33 |
|
1990, No. 33 |
|
2001, No. 28 |
|
1995, No. 24 |
|
2007, No. 19 |
|
2004, No. 37 |
|
2008, No. 18 |
|
1997, No. 15 |
|
Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 |
2010, No. 6 |
2008, No. 7 |
|
2005, No. 2 |
|
2005, No. 34 |
|
2005, No. 14 |
|
2001, No. 32 |
|
1972, No. 27 |
|
2009, No. 33 |
|
Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009 |
2009, No. 5 |
2009, No. 13 |
|
1992, No. 27 |
|
2006, No. 17 |
|
1992, No. 18 |
|
1978, No. 30 |
|
1983, No. 29 |
|
1936, No. 45 |
|
1953, No. 7 |
|
1964, No. 18 |
|
1989, No. 3 |
|
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 |
1995, No. 11 |
|
1994, No. 24 |
|
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 |
|
2009, No. 34 |
|
2007, No. 7 |
|
1995, No. 25 |
|
2003, No. 32 |
|
1997, No. 20 |
|
Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006 |
|
2003, No. 46 |
|
1983, No. 24 |
|
2003, No. 29 |
|
2001, No. 45 |
|
Redundancy Payments Acts 1967 to 2007 |
|
Sea Pollution (Hazardous Substances) (Compensation) Act 2005 |
2005, No. 9 |
2006, No. 29 |
|
1994, No. 27 |
|
1947, No. 44 |
|
Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994 and 2001 |
|
1989, No. 21 |
|
2003, No. 2 |
|
Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2007 |
|
1990, No. 37 |
Number 23 of 2010
CENTRAL BANK REFORM ACT 2010
REVISED
Updated to 27 June 2023
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:
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Application of collectively cited Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2014 restricted (15.07.2015) by European Union (Bank Recovery and Resolution) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 289 of 2015), reg. 119(2)(a), in effect as per reg. 1(2).
119. ...
(2) The special management of the institution under resolution has effect notwithstanding anything in—
(a) the Act of 1989, the Act of 2014 or the Central Bank Acts 1942 to 2014,
...