Ireland’s Department of Finance published a speech by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe setting out how the Government is updating the Ireland for Finance strategy for 2026–2030, with an emphasis on improving Ireland’s competitiveness and simplifying regulation and taxation. The remarks also connected domestic priorities on funds and retail investment to the European Union’s Savings and Investment Union agenda. The strategy refresh follows a summer public consultation, with officials reviewing more than 50 submissions and engaging with 100 stakeholders, where recurring themes included competitiveness and regulatory and tax simplification. On retail investment, the Minister noted that Ireland does not currently have a dedicated investment account and highlighted a November 2025 Budget measure reducing the tax rate applying to investments in funds and life assurance policies to 38% from 41%. Progress on the Department’s Funds 2030 review was also outlined, with 31 of the report’s more than 40 recommendations complete, on a path to completion or in progress, including legislation in the Finance Bill to provide a Dividend Withholding Tax exemption for Investment Limited Partnerships and equivalent EU and European Economic Area funds; the speech also referenced the Central Bank of Ireland’s review of its alternative investment fund Rulebook, where consultation has closed on proposed amendments intended to support private assets. A roadmap to simplify and adapt the tax framework to encourage retail investment is due in early 2026 and will be informed by the European Commission’s Savings and Investment Account blueprint and a Savings and Investments forum to be convened in early 2026. At EU level, Ireland is participating in Council negotiations on the Commission’s proposed review of the securitisation framework, and the speech flagged expected Commission publications on 19 November 2025 including a review of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, legislative proposals on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision and Pan-European Personal Pension Products, and recommendations on auto-enrolment, pension tracking systems and pension dashboards.
Department of Finance (Ireland) 2025-11-18
Ireland’s Department of Finance sets out Ireland for Finance 2026–2030 update and tax simplification plans after lowering fund and life assurance investment rate to 38%
Ireland’s Department of Finance updated the Ireland for Finance strategy for 2026–2030, focusing on competitiveness and regulatory and tax simplification. Key measures include a tax rate reduction on investments and progress on the Funds 2030 review, with a roadmap for retail investment tax simplification due in early 2026. The speech also highlighted Ireland's involvement in EU negotiations on the securitisation framework and anticipated EU publications on sustainable finance and pension systems.