Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

Tá leithscéalta faighte againn ón Teachta Pearse Doherty, ón Teachta Edward Timmins agus ón Seanadóir Joe O'Reilly agus ón Seanadóir Conor Murphy. We have received apologies from Deputies Pearse Doherty and Edward Timmins and Senators Joe O'Reilly and Conor Murphy. Deputy Colm Burke has also sent his apologies, but he may be able to join us later.

Is mian liom na riachtanaisí bunreachtúla seo a leanas a mheabhrú do chomhaltaí agus páirt á ghlacadh acu i gcruinnithe poiblí. Caithfidh comhaltaí a bheith i láthair go fisiciúil laistigh de theorainn Theach Laighean. Ní cheadóidh mé do chomhaltaí labhairt ag cruinnithe poiblí nuair nach bhfuil siad ag cloí leis an riachtanas bunreachtúil seo. Mar sin, má dhéanann aon chomhalta iarracht páirt a ghlacadh ó lasmuigh den suíomh, iarrfaidh mé orthu an cruinniú a fhágáil. Maidir leis seo, iarraim ar chomhaltaí a dheimhniú go bhfuil siad i láthair laistigh de phurláin Theach Laighean sula ndéanann siad aon ionchur ar an gcruinniú ar MS Teams. Fíoraítear do chomhaltaí cleachtadh Parlaiminte a urramú nár chóir más féidir daoine ná eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainm ar shlí go bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Chomh maith leis sin, fiafraítear dóibh gan aon rud a rá a d'fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfaí ráiteas a bheith clúmhillteach do dhuine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordóidh mé don duine éirí as an ráiteas láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéilleadh comhaltaí don ordú sin láithreach.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Microsoft Teams that, prior to making their contribution to the meeting, they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Chun comhthéacs a thabhairt, for context, the committee is today considering the Israeli bond programme. The committee reported on this topic on 5 August 2025 and the Central Bank announced that the prospectus was transferred to Luxembourg on 1 September 2025. The committee is interested to hear the Central Bank's reaction to our report and to address specific recommendations that have not been actioned in this transfer. These include recommendation 3:

Central Bank as a competent authority shall conduct an immediate internal review in advance of any renewal in September of the Israeli bond prospectus with the intention of determining whether it is in compliance with the prospectus regulation in terms of the required level of disclosure, accuracy and transparency.

Recommendation 5 states:

As part of a review seek supplementary information from the issuer and include an examination of the completeness of the bond prospectus and a request that further information be provided by the issuer with regards to: the nature of the case taken by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention and the interim findings of the ICJ in that regard, the ICJ advisory opinion of July 2024 in respect of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and any other pertinent matters in respect of international law.

Recommendation 7 is, "that any review be conducted in accordance with paragraph 88 of the preamble of the prospectus regulation". These are critical recommendations and the committee would appreciate a discussion on the considerations by the Central Bank of Ireland in the renewal of this prospectus.

In this context, I welcome from the Central Bank of Ireland Mr. Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor, Ms Mary-Elizabeth McMunn, deputy governor, and Mr. Gerry Cross, director of capital and markets and funds. I understand Senator Higgins has some guests in the Gallery and I welcome them also. I now invite Mr. Makhlouf to make his opening statement.