Themed Inspections
One of the ways the Central Bank assesses compliance with our statutory codes of conduct (including various European directives) is through themed inspections.
Themed inspections focus on a specific topic or product rather than on a specific institution. These inspections are carried out on a number of regulated entities for which the topic would be applicable or those that represent a significant portion of the market share of the relevant product.
Feedback from themed inspections is provided to the relevant sector(s) of the financial services industry formally and the findings from these themes are brought into the public domain through publication on our website.
Information regarding financial service industry themed inspections is set out below.
- Insurance Companies
- Credit Institutions and Mortgage Lending
- Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
- Retail Intermediaries
- Stockbroking and Investment Firms
- Moneylenders
- Debt Management Firms
Insurance Companies
Consumer Protection Risk Management Frameworks in Insurance Firms - August 2024
Industry Letter - Targeted Consumer Protection Risk Assessment: Consumer Protection Risk Management Frameworks in Insurance Firms | pdf 302 KB
Ongoing Suitability of Long-Term Life Assurance Products – August 2023
Industry Letter - Ongoing Suitability of Long Term Assurance Products | pdf 157 KB
Thematic Review of the Risk Posed to Consumers of Not Having Sufficient Home Insurance Cover – September 2022
Press Release – The Risk Posed to Consumers of Not Having Sufficient Home Insurance Cover
Gadget Insurance Thematic Inspection – November 2018
Industry Letter - Thematic Inspection of Gadget Insurance November 2018 | pdf 430 KB
Press Release - Thematic Inspection of Gadget Insurance - November 2018
Consumers' Experience of the Motor Insurance Claims Process
Industry Letter - Thematic Inspection of Motor Damage Claims Processing - February 2017 | pdf 1597 KB
Information Release - Review of Motor Damage Claims Handling published
Review of Health Insurance Renewal Process - March 2016
Information Release - Review of Health Insurance Renewal Process - March 2016 | pdf 283 KB
Review of Annuity Sales Process - January 2016
Industry Letter - Review of Annuity Sales Process - January 2016 | pdf 937 KB
Information Release - Review of Annuity Sales Process - January 2016 | pdf 329 KB
Review of Sales Incentives to Direct Employees of Insurance Companies, Credit Institutions and Investment Firms - July 2014
Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 967 KB
Information Release - Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 246 KB
Review of Annual Personal Pension Statements - May 2014
Industry Letter - Review of Annual Personal Pension Statements - May 2014 | pdf 1158 KB
Information Release - Review of Annual Personal Pension Statements - May 2014 | pdf 191 KB
Review of Sales Incentives Paid to Direct Employees of Insurance Companies - November 2013
Industry Letter - Review of Sales Incentives paid to direct employees of Insurance Companies – November 2013 | pdf 447 KB
Information Release - Review of Sales Incentives paid to direct employees of Insurance Companies – November 2013 | pdf 250 KB
Household Property Claims Themed Inspection - October 2013
Industry Letter - Household Property Claims themed inspection - October 2013 | pdf 1846 KB
Information Release - Household Property Claims themed inspection - October 2013 | pdf 101 KB
Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012 - June 2012
Industry Letter - Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012: 18 June 2012 | pdf 1541 KB
Information Release - Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012: 19 June 2012 | pdf 172 KB
Third Party Personal Injury Claims - October 2011
Industry Letter - Themed Inspection into Third Party Personal Injury Claims: 07 October 2011 | pdf 382 KB
Information Release - Themed Inspection into Third Party Personal Injury Claims: 13 October 2011 | pdf 123 KB
Complaints Handling by Insurance Firms - April 2011
Industry Letter -Complaints Handling by Insurance Firms: 13 April 2011 | pdf 168 KB
Information Release - Complaints Handling by Insurance Firms: 19 April 2011 | pdf 192 KB
Third Party Motor Insurance Claims Processing - November 2010
Industry Letter - Third Party Motor Insurance Claims Processing: 10 November 2010 | pdf 161 KB
Information Release - Third Party Motor Insurance Claims Processing: 19 November 2010 | pdf 155 KB
Minimum Competency Requirements Themed Review - July 2010
Industry Letter- Compliance by Insurance Companies with Minimum Competency Requirements: 30 July 2010 | pdf 238 KB
Information Release - Compliance by Insurance Companies with Minimum Competency Requirements: 05 August 2010 | pdf 169 KB
Renewal of Motor Insurance Policies & Home Insurance Claims Processing - June 2010
Industry Letter - Renewal of Motor Insurance Policies: 03 June 2010 | pdf 239 KB
Industry Letter -Home Insurance Claims Processing: 02 June 2010 | pdf 238 KB
Information Release - Home Insurance Claims & Motor Renewals: 22 June 2010 | pdf 181 KB
Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers - February 2010
Industry Letter - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers: 02 February 2010 | pdf 243 KB
Information Release - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers: 04 February 2010 | pdf 136 KB
Industry Letter - Review of the Sale of Investment Products to Older Customers: 13 October 2006 | pdf 232 KB
Review of Claims Handling for Payment Protection Insurance Policies - July 2009
Industry Letter - Review of Claims Handling for Payment Protection Insurance Policies: 10 July 2009 | pdf 281 KB
Information Release - Review of Claims Handling for Payment Protection Insurance Policies: 10 July 2009 | pdf 123 KB
Examination of Sales and Premium Review Process of Unit Linked Whole of Life Policies - December 2008
Industry Letter - Examination of Sales and Premium Review Process of Unit Linked Whole of Life Policies: 05 December 2008 | pdf 261 KB
Information Release - Examination of Sales and Premium Review Process of Unit Linked Whole of Life Policies: 05 December 2008 | pdf 100 KB
Examination of Travel Insurance Claims - September 2008
Industry Letter - Examination of Travel Insurance Claims: 28 August 2008 | pdf 102 KB
Information Release - Examination of Travel Insurance Claims: 02 September 2008 | pdf 24 KB
Review of Third Party Motor Insurance Personal Injury Claims - January 2008
Industry Letter - Review of Third Party Motor Insurance Personal Injury Claims:18 January 2008 | pdf 132 KB
Information Release - Review of Third Party Motor Insurance Personal Injury Claims: 12 February 2008 | pdf 146 KB
Review of the Sales of Serious Illness Cover Policies - December 2007
Industry Letter - Review of the Sales of Serious Illness Cover Policies: 12 December 2007 | pdf 144 KB
Information Release - Review of the Sales of Serious Illness Cover Policies:10 January 2008 | pdf 25 KB
Credit Institutions and Mortgage Lending
Thematic Review on Customer Supports for Credit Card Lending - December 2024
The review on Customer Supports for Credit Card Lending was conducted across five credit card lenders, who together hold approximately 97% of all personal credit card accounts in the Irish market. The review looked at key measures taken by firms to support their customers in switching to the most suitable products, and in resolving financial difficulties. It also assessed the firms’ complaints handling processes and how credit card products are marketed and distributed.
Dear CEO Letter - Thematic Review on Customer Supports for Credit Card Lending | pdf 119 KB
Thematic Review on Early Mortgage Arrears - 24 April 2024
Dear CEO letter - Thematic Review on Early Mortgage Arrears - 24 April 2024 | pdf 149 KB
Review of Sales Incentives to Direct Employees of Insurance Companies, Credit Institutions and Investment Firms - July 2014
Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 967 KB
Information Release - Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 246 KB
Research Highlights Positive Experience of Borrowers Engaged in the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP)
Research highlights positive experience of borrowers engaged in MARP: 21 February 2013 | pdf 376 KB
Themed Inspection: Sale of Payment Protection Insurance - June 2012
Letter issued to firms who were inspected: 27 June 2012 | pdf 72 KB
Information Release - Latest inspection into the sale of Payment Protection Insurance | pdf 228 KB
Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012 - June 2012
Industry Letter - Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012: 18 June 2012 | pdf 1541 KB
Information Release - Review of Implementation of Consumer Protection Code 2012: 19 June 2012 | pdf 172 KB
Review of Implementation of the Code of Conduct on the Switching of Current Accounts with Credit Institutions - December 2011
Industry Letter - Review of Implementation of the Code of Conduct on the Switching of Current Accounts with Credit Institutions: 16 December 2011 | pdf 305 KB
Information Release - Review of Implementation of the Code of Conduct on the Switching of Current Accounts with Credit Institutions: 16 December 2011 | pdf 300 KB
Review of Out of Order Activity Fees on Current Accounts - December 2011
Industry Letter - Review of Out of Order Activity Fees on Current Accounts: 13 December 2011 | pdf 423 KB
Information Release - Review of Out of Order Activity Fees on Current Accounts: 13 December 2011 | pdf 285 KB
Review of Lenders Compliance With the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears - June 2011
Industry Letter - Review of Lenders Compliance with the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears: 30 June 2011 | pdf 2102 KB
Information Release - Review of Lenders Compliance with the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears: 01 July 2011 | pdf 235 KB
Inspection of Bank's Promotional Interest Rates - May 2011
Industry Letter - Inspection of Bank's promotional interest rates: 18 May 2011 | pdf 226 KB
Information Release - Inspection of Bank's promotional interest rates: 20 May 2011 | pdf 101 KB
Review of Tracker Bonds' Key Features Documents - March 2011
Industry Letter - Review of Tracker Bonds' Key Feature Documents: 03 March 2011 | pdf 307 KB
Information Release -Review of Tracker Bonds' Key Feature Documents: 04 March 2011 | pdf 201 KB
Themed Inspection of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) - September 2010
Industry Letter- Feedback from the Themed Inspection of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears 2010 | pdf 431 KB
Information Release - Themed Inspection of the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) 2010. | docx 21 KB
Themed Inspection on Residential Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions - April 2010
Industry Letter - Themed Inspection on Residential Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions: 22 April 2010 | pdf 365 KB
Information Release - Residential Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions 23 April 2010 | pdf 280 KB
Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers - February 2010
Industry Letter - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers: 02 February 2010 | pdf 243 KB
Information Release - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers: 04 February 2010 | pdf 136 KB
Minimum Competency Requirements Themed Review - November 2009
Industry Letter - Review of Minimum Competency Requirements: November 2009 | pdf 191 KB
Transparency of Personal Current Accounts - July 2009
Information Release - Transparency of Personal Current Accounts: 29 July 2009 | pdf 394 KB
Examination on the Management and Reporting of Charging Errors - July 2009
Industry Letter - Examination on the Management and Reporting of Charging Error | pdf 319 KB
Information Release - Examination on the Management and Reporting of Charging Errors: 03 July 2009 | pdf 39 KB
Examination of Arrears and Repossessions Handling Procedures - December 2008
Information Release - Examination of Arrears and Repossessions Handling Procedures:16 December 2008 | pdf 24 KB
Complaints Handling in Credit Institutions - November 2008
Industry Letter - Complaints Handling in Credit Institutions: November 2008 | pdf 180 KB
Information Release - Complaints Handling in Credit Institutions: 24 November 2008 | pdf 21 KB
Review of the Sale of Investment Products - June 2008
Information Release - Review of the Sale of Investment Products: 25 June 2008 | pdf 27 KB
Industry Letter - Review of the Sale of Investment products to Older and Vulnerable Consumers: 13 October 2006 | pdf 233 KB
Review of Certain Aspects of Credit Card Compliance - November 2007
Industry Letter - Review of Certain Aspects of Credit Card Compliance: November 2007 | pdf 133 KB
Information Release - Review of Certain Aspects of Credit Card Compliance: 20 November 2007 | pdf 20 KB
Survey of Sales Processes of Regulated Mortgage Providers - September 2007
Industry Letter - Survey of Sales processes of regulated mortgage providers:19 September 2007 | pdf 248 KB
Information Release - Survey of Sales processes of regulated mortgage providers: 8 October 2007 | docx 21 KB
Review of Payment Protection Insurance - February 2007
Industry Letter - Review of Payment Protection Insurance: 27 February 2007 | pdf 1220 KB
Retail Intermediaries
Thematic Review of Compliance with the Minimum Competency Code and Consumer Protection Code - May 2024
Industry Letter – Thematic Review of Compliance with the Minimum Competency Code and Consumer Protection Code | pdf 334 KB
Industry Letter - Thematic Review of data submitted in Retail Intermediaries’ Annual Returns | pdf 301 KB
Themed Inspection of Managing General Agents - November 2018
Industry Letter – Thematic Inspection of Retail Intermediaries acting as Managing General Agents – November 2018 | pdf 302 KB
Press Release - Findings of Managing General Agents Thematic Inspection and Motor Insurance Research released
Results From Themed Inspections - May 2015
Supervisory review programme of retail intermediary firms - 29 May 2015 | docx 21 KB
Minimum Competency Requirements Themed Review - October 2010
Industry Letter -Regulatory Disclosure Requirements and Minimum Competency Requirements Themed Review: 22 October 2010 | pdf 188 KB
Information Release -Minimum Competency Requirements Themed Review: 22 October 2010 | pdf 130 KB
Insurance Intermediaries Compliance with Client Premium Account Regulations - June 2010
Industry Letter - Inspection of Insurance Intermediaries Compliance with Client Premium Account Regulations: June 2010 | pdf 288 KB
Information Release - Inspection of Insurance Intermediaries Compliance with Client Premium Account Regulations: 19 July 2010 | pdf 102 KB
Mortgages Referred to Specialist Lenders by Mortgage Intermediaries - June 2010
Industry Letter -Review of mortgages referred to Specialist Lenders by Mortgage Intermediaries: June 2010 | pdf 140 KB
Information Release - Review of mortgages referred to Specialist Lenders by Mortgage Intermediaries: May 2010 | pdf 314 KB
Examination of Mortgage Intermediaries and Potential Conflicts of Interest - December 2008
Industry Letter - Examination of Mortgage Intermediaries and Potential Conflicts of Interest: 15 December 2008 | pdf 330 KB
Information Release - Examination of Mortgage Intermediaries and Potential Conflicts of Interest: 8 January 2009 | pdf 84 KB
Review of Charges and Premium Rebates - March 2008
Industry Letter - Review of Charges and Premium Rebates: 06 March 2008 | pdf 137 KB
Information Release - Review of Charges and Premium Rebates: 11 March 2008 | pdf 20 KB
Stockbroking & Investment Firms
Dear CEO Letter - Common Supervisory Action on MiFID II Suitability Requirements | pdf 324 KB
Industry letter - MiFID II Best Execution Thematic Inspection - 10 November 2020 | pdf 320 KB
Thematic inspection of appropriateness under MIFID II | pdf 114 KB
Structured Retail Products Themed Inspection - September 2016
Industry Letter - Structured Retail Products Themed Inspection: 01 September 2016 | pdf 440 KB
Information Release - Structured Retail Products Themed Inspection - 01 September 2016 | pdf 346 KB
Contracts for Differences for MiFID Authorised Investment and Stockbroking Firms
Industry Letter - Review of Contracts for Differences: 23 November 2015 | pdf 351 KB
Information Release - Review of Contracts for Difference: 23 November 2015 | pdf 339 KB
Provision of Information to Clients in Relation to Costs and Charges - December 2014
Industry Letter - Provision of Information to Clients in Relation to Costs and Charges- December 2014 | pdf 549 KB
Provision of Information to Clients on Costs and Charges: December 2014 | pdf 405 KB
Review of Sales Incentives to Direct Employees of Insurance Companies, Credit Institutions and Investment Firms - July 2014
Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 967 KB
Information Release - Guidelines on Variable Remuneration Arrangements for Sales Staff - July 2014 | pdf 246 KB
Best Execution Under MiFID Themed Inspection of Investment & Stockbroking Firms - July 2012
Industry Letter - Best Execution under MiFID Themed Inspection of Investment & Stockbroking Firms: 04 July 2012 | pdf 1425 KB
Information Release - Best Execution under MiFID Themed Inspection of Investment & Stockbroking Firms: 10 July 2012 | pdf 193 KB
Complaints Handling by Investment & Stockbroking Firms - June 2011
Industry Letter - Complaints Handling by Investment & Stockbroking Firms: 15 June 2011 | pdf 224 KB
Information Release - Complaints Handling by Investment & Stockbroking Firms: 17 June 2011 | pdf 193 KB
Review of CFD/Spread Betting Firms' Compliance With MiFID Regulations - June 2011
Industry Letter - Review of Contract for Difference (CFD)/Financial Spread Betting Firms' Compliance with MiFID Regulations: 08 June 2011 | pdf 365 KB
Information Release - Review Contract for Difference (CFD)/ Financial Spread Betting Firms' Compliance with MiFID Regulations: 16 June 2011 | pdf 96 KB
Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers - February 2010
Industry Letter - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customers: 02 February 2010 | pdf 166 KB
Information Release - Suitability of Investment Products Sold to Older Customer: 04 February 2010 | pdf 136 KB
Client Categorisation Systems of Investment and Stockbroking Firms - September 2008
Industry Letter - Client Categorisation Systems of Investment and Stockbroking Firms: 29 September 2008 | pdf 94 KB
Information Release - Client Categorisation Systems of Investment and Stockbroking Firms: 02 October 2008 | pdf 20 KB
Moneylenders
Inspection of Licensed Moneylenders APRs and Costs of Credit - March 2013
Industry Letter - Inspection of Licensed Moneylenders APRs and Costs of Credit: 1 March 2013 | pdf 691 KB
Information Release - Inspection of Licensed Moneylenders APRs and Costs of Credit: 6 March 2013 | pdf 293 KB
Inspection of Licensed Moneylenders - February 2011
Information Release - Findings of Inspection of Licensed Moneylenders: 18 February 2011 | pdf 277 KB
Debt Management Firms
Inspection of Compliance by Debt Management Firms
Industry Letter - Themed Inspection of compliance by Debt Management Firms - 27 February 2015 | pdf 803 KB
Information Release - Findings of Themed Inspection of compliance by Debt Management Firms - 27 February 2015 | pdf 397 KB
Consumer Protection Code: Thematic Inspection of Compliance by Debt Management Firms
Industry Letter - Consumer Protection Code, Thematic Inspection of Compliance by Debt Management Firms: 31 March 2016 | pdf 249 KB
Information Release - Central Bank focuses on the debt management sector - 31 March 2016 | pdf 334 KB
Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears
Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears Themed Inspection
Industry Letter - Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears Themed Inspection - 23 June 2015 | pdf 465 KB
Information Release - Central Bank's Themed Inspection identifies weaknesses in lenders compliance with the Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears - 24 June 2015 | pdf 309 KB