Written answer
Legislative Process
853. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the timeline for the publication of legislation to update the Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Act 2015 and Company Law to support tokenisation in the funds industry as set out in the new Ireland for Finance Strategy. [63726/26]
Comment on this
860. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to provide an update on the preparation of legislation to support tokenisation in the funds industry as committed to in the new Ireland for Finance Strategy; the timeframe for drafting and publication of the proposed legislation; if the proposed legislative updates will be progressed through one omnibus Bill or separate Bills amending each of the Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Act 2015 and Company Law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63846/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 860 together.
Funds tokenisation is emerging as a potentially significant innovation in global capital markets, with the potential to transform how investment funds are issued, administered, traded and settled. Tokenisation, the process whereby an underlying asset or pool of assets, tangible or intangible, is converted into digital “tokens” that act as its proxy – could fundamentally reform how capital markets operate, enabling real-time trades; increasing transparency and liquidity; expediting clearing and ultimately providing for atomic settlement.
As part of the Saving and Investment Union (SIU) strategy, the European Commission has published the Market Integration and Supervision Package (MISP). This package will amend 18 pieces of existing EU financial services legislation across trading, clearing, settlement and assets management.
Amending the DLT framework among other related measures forms part of the MISP proposal which seeks to turn the use of DLT in capital markets from a limited “sandbox” into something that can be scaled across the single market, The DLT Pilot Regime is being amended so that tokenised securities can be issued, traded, and settled at meaningful scale. Other changes amend existing EU financial services legislation, making them technologically neutral, allowing for the use of DLT and other technologies. This proposal is currently under negotiation at EU level.
The Funds Sector 2030 Report included a recommendation that industry should continue to engage with the Central Bank of Ireland and the Department of Finance, as necessary “with a view to mapping out a pathway for adoption of tokenisation”.
The new Ireland for Finance Strategy, ‘Vision 2030 – Renewed and Refocussed for a Digital Age’ was launched on 25 August 2026 and identifies tokenisation of investment funds and financial assets as a high-priority area for Ireland's financial services sector and positions it as a key part of the country's digital finance agenda.
The Government has committed to supporting the development of tokenisation of investment funds by conducting an examination of relevant domestic legislation, including the Irish Collective Asset Management Vehicle Act (ICAV Act) and the Companies Act with a view to the modernisation of the legislation where needed.
In March this year, the Central Bank published a Discussion Paper on tokenisation on 5 March 2026. Officials in the Department are engaging closely with the CBI on the matter, including the responses to the Discussion Paper and these will be used to inform next steps.