Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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520. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding his Department-led review of the fund and investment industry in Ireland, including a specific assessment of the deemed disposal rule; if there is a timeline for the implementation of the report’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45707/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I note the Deputy refers to a report previously published by my predecessor, Minister Chambers. In October 2024, Minister Chambers published the ‘Funds Sector 2030: A Framework for Open, Resilient & Developing Markets’, a wide-ranging review of the funds and asset management sector. The Funds Review Report sets out a series of recommendations to ensure that, in pursuit of continued growth in the funds and asset management sector, Ireland’s funds sector framework remains resilient, future-proofed, supportive of financial stability and a continued example of international best-practice.

The Funds Review Report includes eight recommendations to promote increased retail participation in capital markets. Recommendations 22 and 23, which concern taxation, include consideration of the removal of the eight-year deemed disposal rule for Irish domiciled funds and life products. I note the Deputy refers specifically to the consideration of the removal of this rule and a timeline regarding the implementation of the Funds Review Report recommendations.

In the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to progress and publish an implementation plan taking into consideration the Funds Review recommendations related to enabling more retail investment. Recognising the complexities within the current regime for the average retail investor, Department officials are actively reviewing options for measures that could be taken to promote increased retail participation in capital markets. It is likely, given the breadth of the Funds Review Report and the work involved, that where appropriate tax measures are identified, the delivery of those measures may take place over multiple Finance Bill cycles. This work will also take account of developments at an EU level in respect of the Savings Investment Union.