COVID-19 – Statements and Press Releases Last updated: 5 January 2022 Recent Statements from the Central Bank of Ireland 25 June 2021: Consumer Protection Expectations in a Changing Retail Banking Landscape 2021 2 December: Statement regarding EBA Decision to Reactivate Guidelines on Payment Moratoria 24 August: Statement on the use of Electronic Signatures in Regulatory Documents and Forms 7 August: OMFIF - Protecting the economy beyond COVID-19 by Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery 5 August: Central Bank publishes Business Interruption Insurance Supervisory Framework 30 April: Statement on extension of payment breaks 23 April: Central Bank publishes research on understanding SMEs in the COVID-19 pandemic 15 April: Central Bank publishes two research papers using real-time data on economic impact of COVID-19 7 April: "Central Bank actions will contribute to easing the economic impact of the pandemic" Governor Gabriel Makhlouf 3 April: COVID-19 has triggered a severe negative shock to the Irish economy (Quarterly Bulletin Q2 2020) 2 April: COVID-19 Hub now live 31 March: Statement: Essential services 27 March: Central Bank sets out expectations of insurers in light of COVID-19 emergency 22 March: Opinion by Governor Gabriel Makhlouf in Sunday Independent 19 March: Focused on protecting consumers and supporting individuals and firms in financial difficulty 18 March: Statement by Central Bank of Ireland 13 March: Statement by the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Makhlouf 12 March: Central Bank Visitor Centre & Cash Services 4 March: Statement on COVID-19 Virus Statements from Supervisory Authorities in the EU/Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) European Central Bank (ECB) 17 December 2021:ECB will not extend liquidity relief beyond December 2021 23 July 2021: ECB decides not to extend dividend recommendation beyond September 2021 15 December 2020: ECB asks banks to refrain from or limit dividends until September 2021 15 April 2020: ECB communication to reporting agents on the collection of statistical information in the context of COVID-19 7 April 2020: ECB announces package of temporary collateral easing measures 27 March 2020: ECB asks banks not to pay dividends until at least October 2020 20 March 2020: ECB Banking Supervision provides further flexibility to banks in reaction to coronavirus 20 March 2020: ECB announces coordinated central bank action to further enhance the provision of US dollar liquidity 18 March 2020: ECB announces €750 billion Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) 12 March 2020: ECB Banking Supervision provides temporary capital and operational relief in reaction to coronavirus 12 March 2020: ECB announces easing of conditions for targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO III) European Banking Authority (EBA) 15 December 2020: The EBA continues to call on banks to apply a conservative approach on dividends and other distributions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic 2 December 2020: The EBA reactivates its Guidelines on legislative and non-legislative moratoria 2 April: EBA publishes Guidelines on treatment of public and private moratoria in light of COVID-19 measures 31 March 2020: EBA statement on actions to mitigate financial crime risks in the COVID-19 pandemic 25 March 2020: EBA provides clarity to banks and consumers on the application of the prudential framework in light of COVID-19 measures European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) 24 September 2021: General Board decided that the ESRB Recommendation on the restriction of distributions during the COVID-19 pandemic should lapse 15 December 2020: ESRB recommendation on restriction of distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic Policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic European Insurance & Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) 18 December 2020: EIOPA outlines key financial stability risks and vulnerabilities for insurance and pension sector and recommends that any dividend distributions should not exceed thresholds of prudency 24 April 2020: EIOPA published a Consumer Guide: “Understand your insurance coverage during Coronavirus/COVID-19 Outbreak” 2 April 2020: EIOPA urges (re)insurers to temporarily suspend all discretionary dividend distributions and share buy backs 2 April 2020: Update on other measures impacted by COVID-19 pandemic 2 April 2020: EIOPA urges insurers and intermediaries to continue to take actions to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus/COVID-19 on consumers 20 March 2020: EIOPA recommendations on supervisory flexibility regarding the deadline of supervisory reporting and public disclosure - Coronavirus/COVID-19 17 March 2020: EIOPA statement on actions to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus/COVID-19 on the EU insurance sector European Securities & Markets Authority (ESMA) 31 March 2020: ESMA announces update to reporting under the Money Market Funds Regulation 16 March 2020: ESMA requires net short position holders to report positions of 0.1% and above Statements from Other Standard Setters Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 1 April: Statement by the FATF President: COVID-19 and measures to combat illicit financing Links to Other Agencies Banking and Payments Federation Ireland Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Gov.ie: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) INTERPOL EUROPOL Insurance Ireland COVID-19 Hub Citizens Information MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service)