Other regulator updates - ROI

Chartered Accountants Ireland has been engaging with the Companies Registration Office, the Central Bank and other key government agencies and stakeholders regarding the impact of COVID-19. The most up to date information available is as follows:

• Anti-Money Laundering (AML) - The current crisis has resulted in new risks with regard to AML and it’s important to ensure that entities comply with their AML obligations. Our colleagues in Professional Standards have collated AML guidance from a variety of sources which may be beneficial. It is also advisable to keep up to date with any new announcements from the Dept. of Justice, Equality and Law Reform here.
• Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) – The Central Bank of Ireland has published its first Quarterly Bulletin of 2021, which provides data on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. They have also created a COVID-19 hub which contains information and guidance for consumers, businesses and regulated firms.
• Companies Registration Office (CRO) – The CRO have announced that the filing deadline has been extended to 28 May 2021 for companies that have an Annual Return Date on or after 30^th September 2020. The extension is due to the current Level 5 restrictions and the challenges encountered with the new CORE system. Please see the CRO twitter for all the latest updates.
• Central Statistics Office (CSO)– The COVID-19 Information Hub on the CSO website contains a variety of survey results and statistics which members may find interesting.
• Charities Regulator – The Charities Regulator have issued Annual Reporting FAQs specifically to assist entities in filing their Annual Reports and a further list of FAQs which may answer some of the concerns being raised by charities due to covid-19 and these are continually being updated.
• Courts Service – The Courts Service have resumed business in all courts and they have issued an update about how courts will operate for February 2020. Their main priority is to keep staff and court users safe and to keep the courts operating where possible. All statements relating to operating courts during covid-19 can be found here.
• Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) – The DPC have issued guidance on ‘’Processing Customer Data for COVID-19 Contact Tracing’’. This is designed to assist certain businesses who take contact details from customers and retain them for one month in the event that they are required for contact tracing by the health authorities. They previously issued tips for avoiding data breaches. They previously published a guidance note on cookies and other tracking technologies and also issued tips for video-conferences, tips for staying safe online and a note with some guidance for data subject access requests during the COVID-19 crisis. Previously they issued a note which serves as a reminder on data protection obligations when processing personal data relating to COVID-19. They have also published tips to keep personal data safe when working remotely which are included here.
• Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation – The “interim period” under the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Act 2020 (the “Act”) has been extended until 9 June 2021. It commenced in full from 21 August 2020. Some of the provisions of the Act includes an extension of time for the holding of the 2020 Annual General Meeting (with the exception of regulated entities), proposed amendments to specifically provide that companies can have virtual general meetings to include cancellation and rescheduling of meetings, provide for a variation or withdrawal of dividend resolutions, and permitting the execution of documents under seal by the use of counterparts. It also contains similar general meeting provisions for Industrial and Provident Societies. A list of the government covid-19 supports for businesses is available here.
• Pensions Authority – The Pensions Authority has issued a further update on regulatory matters and with employer contributions. It previously issued some guidelines and advice on how to deal with the most immediate issues facing trustees and service providers and also some advice regarding investments and pension scheme contributions. 
• Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) – The PSRA, in conjunction with the IPAV and the SCSI and their staff, have developed Property Services Providers guidance  to implementing a Plan for Living with Covid-19. They previously, also in conjunction with the IPAV and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland issued a Joint Sector Protocol for property service providers. The PSRA has issued a notice regarding the implementation of a four month extension to the expiry dates of Licensees, with an expiry date between 7 May 2020 and 31 August 2020.Their previous update provided information regarding the filing of accountants reports.