254. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide an update on the September 2026 deadline for the annual approval of the prospectus for Israeli war bonds. [48430/26]

The Central Bank are the competent authority when it comes to the issue of prospectus approval and transfer.

The EU Prospectus Regulation provides for the transfer of the approval of a prospectus to the competent authority of another EU Member State; however, the Central Bank of Ireland cannot comment on individual supervisory engagements owing to its professional secrecy obligations.

Furthermore, may I add, that the Central Bank, as the financial regulator, is independent in its functions from the Government as is necessary in any well-functioning democracy.

We as a Government believe that further action is necessary with respect to the EU's relationship with the State of Israel, which is why we are working with others to achieve co-ordinated action at EU level. Ireland will continue to call for concrete EU action in response to egregious Israeli breaches of human rights and democratic principles. This includes a call for a proposal to prohibit EU trade with Israeli settlements, to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, or at a minimum to suspend the trade elements of the Agreement as previously proposed by the President of the European Commission. It is expected that it is expected that the European Commission will bring forward options at the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 July, including on EU trade with Israeli settlements.

I would also like to take the opportunity to highlight that I directed senior officials in my Department to engage with the EU Commission on this matter. Department officials subsequently liaised with their counterparts in the European Commission, drawing attention to the work of the Oireachtas, and in particular to the Joint Oireachtas Committee’s recommendation that the Prospectus Regulation be amended. This engagement reflected my view that the Commission should have regard to the report and its findings.

Officials outlined recent developments in Ireland and sought the views of the Commission on the possibility of a legislative initiative by EU Commission to address the Oireachtas Committee's issues.

In their response, the EU Commission indicated that they currently have no plans for a review of the Prospectus Regulation. I have also raised the JOC report and Government’s views with Commissioner Albuquerque, in person and by letter.