Welcome to this week’s Technical Roundup. In developments this week, as part of its ongoing engagement activities in relation to the periodic review of FRS 102 and other FRSs, the Financial Reporting Council hosted a webinar on 19 January which gave an overview of the proposals and provided further context in relation to the decisions made; the Chairperson of the European Banking Authority recently gave a speech on Financing transition to sustainability? What is the role of banking regulation? He said that the financial sector has an important role to play, both in terms of financing the transition to sustainability and for managing financial risks stemming from ESG factors. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting IAASA has published a compendium of financial reporting decisions. These decisions relate to accounting treatments applied by three companies in their 2021 annual financial reports. This compendium, for the first time, includes decisions covering accounting for climate change and sustainability initiatives. As part of its ongoing engagement activities in relation to the periodic review of FRS 102 and other FRSs, the FRC hosted a webinar on 19 January which gave an overview of the proposals and provided further context in relation to the decisions made. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) are hosting a webinar on 31 January entitled “ESG – what we’ve achieved so far and what’s next” The IASB have released a webcast which addresses the proposals on financial instruments contained in the recent Exposure Draft on the Third Edition of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard. In its Q4 2022 podcast the IFRS Interpretations Committee discussed a recent submission in relation to IFRS 16 relating to whether a contract including a substitution right contains a lease. The tentative agenda decision in relation to this is open for comment until 6 February 2023. In its sixth episode of “The Fast Future with IFAC” podcast series, some issues relevant to small and medium practitioners are discussed, including cybersecurity, cloud computing, client relationship-building, attracting and retaining talent and firm innovation. Auditing The IAASB has opened its public consultation for a group audit-specific section of the proposed auditing standard for less complex entities. This is open for public comment until 2 May. Sustainability The Chairperson of the European Banking Authority recently gave a speech on Financing transition to sustainability? What is the role of banking regulation? He said that the financial sector has an important role to play, both in terms of financing the transition to sustainability and for managing financial risks stemming from ESG factors. There was some discussion on the EBA roadmap which was adopted in December 2022 and that EBA are going to continue working to embed ESG considerations into their risk analysis and stress testing. Professional Accountancy Education Europe (PAEE), which is a collaboration between European accountancy bodies striving to provide a high-quality education framework at international level have issued some Q&As which explain why it is vital to further develop sustainability awareness among accountancy and auditing professionals. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) have issued their January 2023 update and podcast. This discusses recent developments including the rollout and adoption of Sustainability Standards S1 and S2. Insolvency The Institute is hosting a webinar on Options for directors’ in financial difficulty on Thursday, 9 February 2023. We will outline directors’ duties and obligations when a business is in financial difficulty, and possible consequences for directors for not adhering to those duties and obligations. There will be discussion on the recent insolvency related changes to Companies Act 2014 on the expansion of directors’ duties. Anti-money laundering The Irish Minister for Justice, with the consent of the Minister for Finance recently issued Guidelines under section 37(12) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (as amended) (Act) giving a bit more detail of  those functions in the State that may be considered to be prominent public functions for the purposes of the Act. This will assist firms to identify domestic Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) when conducting their AML risk assessment. The UKFIU recently published the 2022 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) Annual Report and annexes which features statistics covering the years 2020-21 and 2021-22.SARs are submitted to the NCA by individuals working in regulated sectors such as banking, legal and financial services, where they suspect that transactions are being used to launder money or conceal criminal activity. Other Areas of Interest The Irish Central Bank recently issued a Dear CEO letter concerning its supervisory findings and expectations for payment and electronic money (E-Money) firms. The purpose of the letter is to reaffirm supervisory expectations of CBI with the CBI stating that the supervision of all financial services sectors is risk-based. The letter also sets out a requirement that all payment and e-money firms who are required to safeguard users’ funds obtain a specific audit of their compliance with the safeguarding requirements under EU regulations and the letter sets out what CBI expects the audit opinion to contain. Read the full letter at the link above . Also, in CBI news the Governor recently issued a letter setting out his financial regulation priorities 2023.Among other items it includes continuing progress on actions on the systemic risks generated by non -banks and ensuring that the EU’s Anti Money Laundering Action Plan including the establishment of a single supervisory authority results in  a consistent and robust EU wide framework. The DETE webinar on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)was held on 26 January 2023.The purpose of the webinar was to introduce CSRD and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards arising out of it, to Irish businesses so that they can begin their preparations. DETE reported that next week will see the launch of a public consultation on member state options contained within the CSRD. Further news on the webinar can be found here. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.  

Welcome to this week’s Technical Roundup.  In developments this week, the IDA in Ireland has issued its monthly e-zine which includes a report of ‘green talent’ on the rise and seven offshore renewables projects given a boost by the Irish Government; the Financial Reporting Council held a webinar on 19 January setting out the proposals contained in FRED 82 Draft amendments to FRS 102 The Financial reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and other FRSs – Periodic Review. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) are planning to hold a series of webinars on corporate reporting. The series, which commences on 24 January, will offer a deep dive into the ISSB proposed standards and will consist of three parts as follows. Part 1: Better information for better decisions—Introduction to investor-focused sustainability disclosure Part 2: Any size or stage—Getting started on climate disclosure Part 3: Connectivity and controls—the path to investor-grade disclosure The FRC held a webinar on 19 January setting out the proposals contained in FRED 82 Draft amendments to FRS 102 The Financial reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and other FRSs – Periodic Review. Auditing A new publication from Accountancy Europe builds on the factsheet published last year and offers constructive recommendations based on the discussions with their members’ audit experts as well as external stakeholders involved in developing AQI initiatives in their respective jurisdictions. Sustainability The IDA in Ireland has issued its monthly e-zine which you can click here to read. It includes a report of ‘green talent’ on the rise and seven offshore renewables projects given a boost by the Irish Government. Insolvency In December 2022, the Bankruptcy Master for Northern Ireland advised that the restriction on filing new creditors' winding up petitions is likely to be lifted in the new term. The court has advised that further information will be issued in advance of the new guidance. The court noted that lifting the restrictions may bring about some logistical challenges which is further hampered by the absence of the new proposed Insolvency (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2022 and has encouraged a collaborative approach between all practitioners and the court. The Institute is hosting a webinar on Options for directors’ in financial difficulty on Thursday, 9 February 2023. We will outline directors’ duties and obligations when a business is in financial difficulty, and possible consequences for directors for not adhering to those duties and obligations. There will be discussion on the recent insolvency related changes to Companies Act 2014 on the expansion of directors’ duties. Other Areas of Interest The Irish Dept of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) recently published its January 2023 Enterprise newsletter. It includes information on topics such as the webinar DETE are hosting on Thursday 26 January 2022 between 10am - 12pm to explain the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and accompanying standards in more detail. It also includes information on tariff suspension/quota schemes with the deadline for applications at 5.30pm on Tuesday, 31 January 2023. It also gives information on changes to the employment permit system to address skills shortages in Ireland’s Dairy, Transport and Home Care sectors. DETE has advertised that there will be presentations from the officials heading up the transposition of the directive within the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) and the EU Commission on the day of the webinar. The Irish government has recently published its legislation programme for Spring 2023. Click here for the press release and to access the spring legislative programme. Some particular items of interest are as follows: In the programme pre legislative scrutiny has taken place on the Charities (Amendment) Bill and it is now on the priority publication list. There is a heads in preparation of an Equality Acts (Amendment) Bill 2023 stated to make provision for proposed amendments to the equality legislation arising from the review of the Equality Acts. Readers may recall previous government agenda where a limited partnership Bill was proposed to modernise the Limited Partnership Act 1907.In the spring 2023 programme there is a heads in preparation of a Miscellaneous Provisions (Transparency and Registration of Limited Partnerships and Business Names) Bill 2023. This is stated to be to reform the Limited Partnerships Act 1907 and the Registration of Business Names Act 1963, strengthening Ireland’s regulatory framework and responding to concerns raised in relation to the transparency of limited partnerships. The Co-operative Societies bill is on the agenda as heads in preparation. Readers may recall that earlier this year, the Institute, as part of CCAB-I, responded to a public consultation from the Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on new legislation for the co-operative sector and in November 2022 we brought you a news item that the Government had approved the drafting of what is billed as ground-breaking legislation for the sector. Here is the link to page giving details of the General Scheme of the Co-operative Societies Bill 2022. On this quarter’s legislative agenda work is still underway on the Companies (Administrative, Governance & Insolvency Amendment) Bill and it is stated to give effect to outstanding Programme for Government commitments on rights of workers as creditors; trading entities splitting operations; and transactional avoidance. One last bill which might be of interest is the Licencing of Construction Activity Bill which is stated to be to provide for the establishment of a statutory licensing system for construction and related activities. The Dept of Justice has recently published its 2021 Annual Report. They report that publication of  a Justice Climate Policy Statement setting out how the justice sector will reach its ambitious climate and energy efficiency targets, including by the adoption of green public procurement has been carried over to Justice Plan 2022. On the anti-money laundering front it is reported for example that 2021 inspections comprised 106 inspections of High Value Goods Dealers; 138 inspections of Trust or Company Service Providers; 23 inspections of notaries; 8 inspections of gambling providers and 5 inspections of Tax Advisors/ External Accountants. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.

In developments this week, the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has issued a public consultation for its 2024-2027 proposed strategy and work plan; the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment has announced that it will hold a webinar on 26 January 2023 (10am-12pm) to inform stakeholders of the new requirements and standards in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and accompanying standards. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting The FRC are holding a webinar on 19 January on its recently released Exposure Draft “FRED 82”, which sets out the FRC’s Draft amendments to FRS 102 proposed as part of the periodic review of the standard. In its recently released Exposure Draft, the IASB has proposed a temporary exception in relation to accounting for deferred tax arising from the implementation of the OECD Pillar Two model rules. Comments are requested by the IASB by 10 March 2023. The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) has published a Draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment (DECA) on Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback —Amendments to IFRS 16 (the Amendments) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in September 2022. These amendments add requirements explaining how a seller-lessee subsequently accounts for sale and leaseback transactions with variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate. Auditing The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) has issued a public consultation for its 2024-2027 proposed strategy and work plan. The strategy seeks to accelerate the actions originally laid out in the 2020-2023 strategy with a focus on standard setting that supports the performance of high-quality audit and assurance engagements. Sustainability In its latest podcast, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) discuss recent decisions and discussions from the ISSB meeting in December. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) has announced that it will hold a webinar on 26 January 2023 (10am-12pm) to inform stakeholders of the new requirements and standards in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and accompanying standards. DETE also says that a public consultation will be launched seeking views to inform Ireland’s transposition of the discretionary options of the Directive into national law. While acknowledging that it is a US report, in the light of ongoing developments in sustainability, readers might be interested in the Climate Action Report released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System recently. This report reviews the climate action plans of global systemically important banks (“G-SIBs”) and summarizes the progress they are making toward achieving them. Click here to access the website of Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and here to access the full paper. An abstract from the report states that despite some progress by large global banks to address climate change considerations, much work lies ahead to properly measure and disclose climate-related risks, and to better align financing activities with their net-zero targets. Insolvency The Institute is hosting a webinar on Options for directors’ in financial difficulty on Thursday, 9 February 2023. We will outline directors’ duties and obligations when a business is in financial difficulty, and possible consequences for directors for not adhering to those duties and obligations. There will be discussion on the recent insolvency related changes to Companies Act 2014 on the expansion of directors’ duties. Under the Joint Insolvency Committee’s (JIC’s) strategic work plan, Statements of Insolvency Practice (SIPs) are subject to periodic review in order to ensure they remain relevant to changing legislation and market conditions. Following consultations with the profession and other stakeholders, including the Insolvency Service, HMRC and major creditor representatives, a revised version of SIP 3.1 – Individual Voluntary Arrangements has now been approved by the JIC and the Recognised Professional Bodies for implementation with effect from 1 March 2023.  The revised SIP 3.1 applies in Northern Ireland, England and Wales. Other Areas of Interest The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) recently published its Mergers & Acquisitions Report 2022 which includes statistics on the number of mergers and acquisitions notified and decided in 2022. There was a 16% decrease in notified mergers from 2021 and one proposed acquisition was prohibited. In the case of the proposed banking transaction Bank of Ireland /KBC, the CCPC imposed a commitment on Bank of Ireland of the provision of one billion euro to non-bank lenders to support competitive developments in the mortgage market. In publishing its banking decisions, the CCPC says that it took the opportunity to raise concerns in relation to the overall competitiveness of the banking sector in Ireland and has continued to engage with the Department of Finance and the Central Bank on these matters. Readers can access a copy of the Mergers & Acquisitions report here. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.    

Welcome to this week’s Technical Roundup.  In developments this week, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) is seeking comments on its draft endorsement advice on amendments to IAS 1; IAASA has published its key messages for auditors in the area of related parties, the Irish Government in recent weeks launched its Climate Action Plan 2023; the Irish Corporate Enforcement Authority has this week published an Information Note on the topic of Early Warning Tools and Restructuring Frameworks. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) is seeking comments on its draft endorsement advice on amendments to IAS 1. Comments are requested by 1 March 2023. EFRAG has also issued its December 2022 update. The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) has published a Draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment on Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback —Amendments to IFRS 16 (the Amendments) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in September 2022. Comments are requested from stakeholders by 5 April 2023. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued itsDecember 2022 update The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has issued its December 2022 IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard Update. This includes FAQs on the proposed amendments to the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard and some new resources to support the ongoing consultation. The IASB has also released its December 2022 podcast and the IFRS Foundation has released its monthly news summary. Auditing IAASA has published its key messages for auditors in the area of related parties, and IAASA’s YouTube channel also now includes a video that shares questions asked by IAASA’s audit inspectors during 2022 in the area of related parties. IAASA’s new video provides information on the revised ISA (Ireland) 315 Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Material Misstatement. ISA 315 is effective for financial periods beginning on or after 15 December 2021. The Irish Government in recent weeks launched its Climate Action Plan 2023. This sets out how Ireland will accelerate the action required to respond to the climate crisis, putting climate solutions at the centre of Ireland’s social and economic development. Some details of the plan are contained in the government press release and it is intended that an Annex to the Climate Action Plan, outlining more detail on the Plan’s actions, will be published early in 2023. The European Commission recently published two draft notices containing FAQs relating to the Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act and the Taxonomy Regulation. The first Draft Commission Notice is regarding the interpretation and implementation of certain legal provisions of the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act establishing technical screening criteria for economic activities that contribute substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and do no significant harm to other environmental objective. The second Draft Commission Notice relates to the interpretation and implementation of certain legal provisions of the Disclosures Delegated Act under Article 8 of EU Taxonomy Regulation on the reporting of taxonomy-eligible and taxonomy-aligned economic activities and assets (second Commission Notice). Insolvency The Irish Corporate Enforcement Authority has this week published an Information Note on the topic of Early Warning Tools and Restructuring Frameworks. The CEA states that the purpose of the document is to provide assistance to company directors in understanding certain aspects of the European Union (Preventive Restructuring) Regulations 2022. Specifically, the Information Note has been prepared with a view to assisting company directors to understand the importance of maintaining adequate accounting records, what is meant by a company being in financial difficulty, being unable to pay its debts and being insolvent respectively, specific aspects of company directors’ duties where a company is in financial difficulty, and the potential consequences of non-compliance with company directors’ duties. You can read the CEA news item on the Information Note here, the Information Note can be accessed here and a feedback statement from the CEA on the public consultation can also be accessed. Readers’ attention is drawn to a recent high court case from late 2022, in the matter of Spencer Dock Development Company Limited (in liquidation). In the case the High court initially refused to approve payment of fees to a company in which the official liquidator had an interest, but which company was a third party. The court discussed the liquidator as a fiduciary and the role of trust of the liquidator. The court also noted that the main creditor in the liquidation was NAMA which the taxpayer funds and the court referred to its obligation to have regard to the interests of the taxpayer. Subsequently the fee was revised and all payable to the liquidators and the court approved this. Anti-money laundering, economic crime, cyber security The European Banking Authority issued its 9th AML/CFT Newsletter in recent weeks. It contains information which might be of interest. For example, on EuReCA, the European Reporting system for AML/CFT material weaknesses launched in January of last year. Also, information on the publication of final Remote Customer Onboarding Guidelines in November 2022, a consultation on Guidelines to tackle de-risking and the publication of its 2022 Risk Assessment Report. Read the full newsletter at the above link. The National Crime Authority in the UK has in recent weeks issued its December edition of SARs in Action. The publication contains interesting information including case studies on SARs and a listing of red flag indicators for the crime of sexual exploitation. In recent weeks HM Treasury in the UK published its Anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism: Supervision Report 2020-22. The report covers a number of matters which may be of interest including a listing at section 3.53 of the most common AML breaches identified by the accountancy and legal Professional Body supervisors during the reporting periods. These include inadequate documented policies and procedures and inadequate resource allocated to AML compliance. Sanctions Readers’ attention is drawn to some news items which may be of interest on sanctions since our last publication of round up in mid-December 2022. The European Union issued its ninth package of sanctions against Russia on 16 December 2022. It includes the imposition of export controls and restrictions, restrictions in the banking sector, restrictions in the broadcasting sector, restrictions in consulting services, energy and mining sectors, restrictions on EU nationals holding posts on governing bodies of Russian state owned or controlled legal persons entities or bodies located in Russia. It also added to the individuals and entities the assets of which are frozen. Our sanctions webpage has been updated with some links and information on the ninth package of sanctions. In our last round up we reported on the Central Bank’s update of its sanctions webpage with an infographic and financial sanctions FAQs. CBI has now helpfully provided a direct link to the European Union's guidance on guidance on Best Practices referred to in one of the sanctions FAQs. On December 20th we reported on the UK auditing ban which was announced in September 2022 and brought into legislative force on December 16, 2022. We also updated our news item from July 2022 which gave details of the UK ban on providing accounting services to Russia to take account of the audit ban which is now in place. Other areas of interest Readers are reminded of the coming into force of the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2002 from 1 Jan 2023. During 2022 Round up brought readers several news items on the passing of the Act which was signed into law in 2022 and the announcement of commencement of the Act from 1 Jan 2023. By way of reminder the new legislation will substantially amend the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, expanding the categories of protected person to include protections for volunteers, shareholders, board members and job applicants for the first time. It also expands the wrongs in respect of which a protected disclosure can be made and imposes requirements on organisations to put internal whistleblowing procedures in place. It also provides for a new Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner. Access to the Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) Beneficial Ownership Register for Certain Finance Vehicles by members of the public has been suspended following a recent judgment by the European Court of Justice in the Luxembourg business registers case. The CBI has updated its guidance and this third version relates to Chapters 3 and 4 regarding access to the register by members of the public. The Charity Commission (England and Wales) has published an updated set of questions as it launches its new Annual Return in response to charity sector and public feedback. The Irish Pensions Authority has in recent weeks published information on the annual compliance statement (ACS) for 2022 that is provided for under the Pensions Act, 1990 as amended .The 2022 ACS must be prepared no later than 31 January 2023. The Authority will carry out sample checks and audits of trustee compliance with the obligation. The annual compliance statement form to be used can be found on the Authority’s webpage at the above link. On 16 December 2022 the Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment transposed the EU Directive 2019/1152 on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions by the European Union (Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions) Regulations 2022. Click here for the news item from DETE on the introduction of the regulations which for example introduce a limit to the length of probationary periods at the beginning of a job and anti-abuse legislation for zero-hour contract work. Readers are reminded of the round up article in October 2021 where we reported on the Directive including a DETE public consultation on the Directive. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub.

In case readers missed our news item in our weekly Round Up last week ,we reported that the Irish Central Bank (CBI ) has  updated its sanctions webpage with an infographic and financial sanctions FAQs . We were locating a link for readers to EU guidance on ownership and control referenced in the FAQs. This is now linked below. The CBI FAQs includes a question on whether sanctions only apply to those on the sanctions lists? In the answer CBI says that where you identify that a sanctioned individual or entity owns or controls the individual/entity with whom you are transacting, you should fully assess the impact of this ownership or control. When conducting this assessment, you should refer to the EU Commission’s guidance on ownership and control. This guidance on ownership/control can be found in EU Best Practices which was updated in 2022. This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in these pages purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the pages. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of these pages, we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained in these pages. Chartered Accountants Ireland can accept no responsibility for the content on any site that is linked to/from the Institute website. Links are provided in good faith for the potential support of members and students.  

Readers may be aware that the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) (No. 17) Regulations 2022 (the No. 17 Regulations ) were recently passed in the UK bringing into effect further prohibitions  from 16 December 2022 including a ban on auditing services which was announced in September 2022. “Auditing services “is defined and means services consisting of examination of the accounting records and other supporting evidence of an organisation for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to (a) whether financial statements of the organisation present fairly its position as at a given date, and (b) the results of its operations for the period ending on that date, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Readers should note that the No. 17 Regulations bring further changes into effect including a prohibition on the provision of trust services and they also contain certain exemptions from the prohibitions contained in the No.17 Regulations (see section 60DA(3) in relation to auditing services) . This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in these pages purports to provide professional advice or definitive legal interpretation(s) or opinion(s) on the applicable legislation or legal or other matters referred to in the pages. If the reader is in doubt on any matter in this complex area further legal or other advice must be obtained. While every reasonable care has been taken by the Institute in the preparation of these pages, we do not guarantee the accuracy or veracity of any resource, guidance, information or opinion, or the appropriateness, suitability or applicability of any practice or procedure contained therein. The Institute is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of the resources or information contained in these pages. Chartered Accountants Ireland can accept no responsibility for the content on any site that is linked to/from the Institute website. Links are provided in good faith for the potential support of members and students.