Information About the Central Bank of Ireland

Establishment of the Central Bank of Ireland

The Central Bank of Ireland was established on 1 February 1943 under the Central Bank Act 1942. The Central Bank Reform Act 2010 created a new single unitary body – the Central Bank of Ireland - responsible for both central banking and financial regulation. The new structure replaced the previous related entities, the Central Bank and the Financial Services Authority of Ireland and the Financial Regulator.

Roles, Responsibilities and Functions of the Central Bank of Ireland

The functions of the Central Bank are set out in various enactments. Our website provides information about the rules, procedures, practices, guidelines and interpretations used by the Central Bank to make decisions, determinations or recommendations pursuant to those enactments. You may want to start by reading about:

• Role of the Central Bank of Ireland

• Classes of records held by the Central Bank of Ireland

Further information about functions of the Central Bank under specific enactments, such as our consumer protection or financial regulation functions, may be found on the relevant pages of the website.

Governance / Management Arrangements

The Central Bank Act 1942 provides that the activities and affairs of the Central Bank, other than European System of Central Banks (ESCB) functions, are managed and controlled by the Central Bank Commission (the Commission). The Commission has the following statutory functions:

• Managing and controlling the affairs and activities of the Central Bank

• Ensuring that the Central Bank's financial regulation and central banking functions are coordinated and integrated
• Ensuring that the statutory powers and functions conferred on the Central Bank are properly exercised and discharged.

The Commission engages with management members on issues of strategic importance to the Central Bank (other than ESCB functions) and advises, supports and constructively challenges them as appropriate.

• Read more about the Commission
• Read more about the Senior Team in the Central Bank.
• Read more about Internal Governance in the Central Bank.

Corporate Plans and Strategies

The Central Bank of Ireland serves the public interest by safeguarding monetary and financial stability and by working to ensure that the financial system operates in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy. Our Strategy outlines how the Central Bank will deliver on its mandate in the coming three years.

Annual Reports

The Central Bank is required by the Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended) to prepare a report on our activities during the year. Our Annual Report contains information on our key activities and developments, governance and financial operations.

Included in the Annual Report is our Annual Performance Statement, pursuant to the Central Bank Act 1942 (as amended), which provides an evaluation on the Central Bank's performance under a number of key areas such as Regulatory Performance, Financial Institutions Supervision, Markets Supervision and Consumer Protection and Enforcement.

Our Safety, Health and Sustainability report is also released on an annual basis.

Read more about our publications. 

Organisation and Pay / Grading Structures

The Central Bank is organised into directorates which report to the Deputy Governor (Consumer and Investor Protection), the Deputy Governor (Financial Regulation), the Deputy Governor (Monetary and Financial Stability), or the Chief Operations Officer. The Deputy Governors and Chief Operations Officer report to the Governor.

• Organisational Structure
• Pay/Grading Structures

Locations and Contact Details for the Organisation

Members of the public with queries on Central Bank operations and financial sector regulation can contact our Public Contacts Helpline, 0818 681 681. Our helpline is open Monday to Friday from 09:00-18:00. Alternatively members of the public can e-mail [email protected].

For further details see our Contact Us page

Links to Agencies/Other Bodies Under the FOI Body's Remit

The Central Bank provides funding to the Irish Financial Services Appeal Tribunal (IFSAT) and is a shareholder of the Investor Compensation Company Limited (ICCL).

• Associated bodies

Cooperation Agreements

Customer Charters

• Central Bank’s customer complaints mechanism

Code of Ethics

• Code of Ethics