The goAML system for making suspicious transaction reports (STRs) which the Irish Financial Intelligence Unit administers, is being upgraded. The upgrade is scheduled to go live the week of 10 February 2025. The FIU is carrying out internal training and there may be delays in processing STRs during this upgrade period. Firms registered on goAML will have received a communication from the FIU about the upgrade and in particular how to make urgent STRs during the upgrade period. Please click here to view further details from the FIU.   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.

From the Institute's Professional Accounting team .... In December 2024 the UK Government laid legislation, the Companies (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 before Parliament to increase the monetary size thresholds for micro, small and medium-sized entities. It also removes certain requirements from the Directors’ Report.  The new monetary size threshold changes are effective from 6 April 2025. Please also click to read the explanatory memorandum to the legislation for further insight into the changes.                                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.

Welcome to the latest edition of Technical Roundup. In developments since the last edition, the Institute has published new guidance Technical Alert 04/2024 – Sample CSRD Limited Assurance Report in accordance with ISAE (Ireland) 3000 as required by Section 1613 of the Companies Act 2014. The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) has published a Draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment on the potential use in the UK of the International Accounting Standards Board’s ‘Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments’. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Financial Reporting On 10 December, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) held their 2024 conference entitled ‘Advancing Transparency & Competitiveness in Challenging Times’. A recording of this event is now available to view on EFRAG’s website. The body responsible for drafting the next version of the Charity SORP has provided an update on the development of the next version of the standard, which will incorporate the recent changes in UK and Irish GAAP. The SORP making body plan to submit a draft SORP to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in January 2025. Once the draft has been approved by the FRC, the draft SORP will be subject to a 12-week consultation period (expected no later than March). The SORP making body have also stated that they expect the updated SORP to be issued in Autumn 2025, with an effective date of 1 January 2026. The FRC is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, 15 January on the topic of recent amendments to FRS 102 to discuss how it will impact UK charities and how they can start preparing for implementation of the updated reporting requirements. The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) has published a Draft Endorsement Criteria Assessment on the potential use in the UK of the International Accounting Standards Board’s Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments. Comments are welcomed by UKEB by 10 January. UKEB has published a draft comment letter for public consultation in response to the International Accounting Standards Board’s (IASB) Exposure Draft Provisions – Targeted Improvements. Comments are welcomed by UKEB until 10 February 2025. The UK Government have issued their Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) which sets out guidance for preparing government annual reports and accounts in the United Kingdom. Auditing The Institute has published new guidance ‘Technical Alert 04/2024 – Sample CSRD Limited Assurance Report in accordance with ISAE (Ireland) 3000 as required by Section 1613 of the Companies Act 2014’. The Technical Alert has been prepared to assist members reporting on the limited assurance engagements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and in compliance with International Standard on Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 . Anti–money laundering and sanctions In December 2024 the Minister for Justice passed Regulations which from 30 December prescribes crypto asset service providers as a designated person under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing ) Act 2010 and prescribes the Central Bank of Ireland as the competent authority for crypto-asset service providers. Accountancy Europe have issued a factsheet: Navigating the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation: Key Issues for the Accountancy Profession on their website. The European Banking Authority latest newsletter was published in the last few weeks. Take a look for a roundup of the last few months and a preview of what lies ahead. Please click to access the EBA AML CFT newsletter here. On 16 December 2024 the European Union adopted its 15th package of sanctions measures. The package includes travel bans and asset freeze measures against natural persons and legal persons, entities, or bodies, updated sectoral sanctions and extension of derogations. Click to read the European Council press release giving details of the 15th package. The derogation in certain circumstances from the prohibition on provision of services including accounting and auditing services (which prohibition exists since the 6th package of sanctions in 2022) has been extended to 31 December 2025. Please click for further details in our news item. Sustainability Accountancy Europe have published a new webpage of FAQs: fundamentals to assurance on sustainability reporting which provides answers to frequently asked questions on sustainability reporting assurance. EFRAG has published an addendum to EFRAG IG 3 ‘ESRS Datapoints’, which is part of EFRAG's non-authoritative implementation guidance on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs).   The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the We Mean Business Coalition (WMBC), together with the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA), have published a report titled ‘Building Trust in Sustainability Reporting and Preparing for Assurance: Governance and Controls for Sustainability Information’. Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) is preparing a series focused on nature to assist accountants and finance professionals in shaping a nature-positive economy that supports long-term value creation. The first guide in the series, The Business Case for Nature, explains why nature is vital to business and offers clear steps and practical tips for developing the business case for your organization. Central Bank of Ireland The Central Bank of Ireland has announced the establishment of a dedicated Fitness and Probity Unit. Other news The Institute has revised the Public Practice Regulations with effect from 1 January 2025. Please click here for a news item on revision of Public Practice Regulations from the Institute’s Professional Standards Department on the amendments. The Institute has revised the CPD Regulations with effect from 1 January 2025. Please click here for a news item on revision of CPD Regulations from the Institute’s Professional Standards Dept. on the changes. In December 2024 the UK Government laid the legislation, the Companies (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2024 before Parliament to increase the monetary size thresholds for micro, small and medium-sized entities. It also removes certain requirements from the Directors’ Report. Please also click to read the explanatory memorandum to the legislation for further insight into the changes. The new monetary size threshold changes are effective from 6 April 2025.                        In conjunction with commencement of Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 on 6 January 2025, the Dept. of Enterprise Trade and Employment has launched an Inward Investment Screening mechanism whereby transactions that meet certain criteria are notified using a new Inward Investment Screening (IIS) online portal, and checked to make sure all is in order before being given the green light to proceed, or to modify or cancel the investment. Please click for all the details on the new system, including access to the new IIS portal. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a Feedback Statement summarising the responses it received to its Consultation Paper (CP) on the securitisation disclosure templates under the Securitisation Regulation (SECR). The International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS) has launched a public consultation on its draft Revised IOPS Principles of Private Pension Supervision.  The process is due to be closed by 14 February 2025. The Corporate Enforcement Authority have recently issued ‘A graduated response’ which details specific criminal offences and the range of civil enforcement measures available under the Companies Act 2014. For further technical information and updates please visit the Technical Hub on the Institute website.    This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in the information 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 information. 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 the information 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 herein.  

On 16 December 2024 the European Union adopted its 15th package of sanctions measures. The package includes travel bans and asset freeze measures against natural persons and  legal persons, entities, or bodies, updated sectoral sanctions and extension of derogations. Click to read the European Council press release giving details of the 15th package . The derogation from the prohibition on provision of services including accounting and auditing  services (which prohibition exists since the 6th package of sanctions in 2022) has been extended to 31  December 2025 .To avail of the derogation the  provision of services must be strictly necessary for the divestment from Russia or the wind-down of business activities in Russia and certain conditions must be fulfilled: that the services are provided to and for the exclusive benefit of the legal persons, entities or bodies resulting from the divestment; and that  competent authorities deciding on requests for authorisations have no reasonable grounds to believe that the services might be provided, directly or indirectly, to the Government of Russia or a military end-user or have a military end-use in Russia.   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.

Welcome to the latest edition of Technical Roundup which is published on the first and third Friday of every month. In developments since the last edition, the Central Bank of Ireland has appointed Mary-Elizabeth McMunn as Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation.  She will take up her role on 1 January 2025.  The International Accounting Standards Board and the International Sustainability Standards Board recently launched a webcast series to discuss how IFRS Accounting Standards and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards complement each other. Read more on these and other developments that may be of interest to members below. Audit and Assurance The Institute has published new guidance ‘Technical Alert 04/2024 – Sample CSRD Limited Assurance Report in accordance with ISAE (Ireland) 3000 as required by Section 1613 of the Companies Act 2014’. The Technical Alert has been prepared to assist members reporting on the limited assurance engagements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and in compliance with International Standard on Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 . The FRC has published initial feedback on its market study into the audit market for NHS providers and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Financial Reporting The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) are holding a webinar entitled “How charities can prepare for major amendments to FRS 102 “ which will discuss the impact of the recent amendments to FRS 102 on charities. The FRC has issued FRED 86-Draft amendments to FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework 2024/25 cycle. This proposes some changes to FRS 101 as part of the annual review of the standard. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has announced that it has completed its decision making on the revised IFRS Practice Statement 1 Management Commentary, with an updated Practice Statement expected to be published in the first half of 2025. The IASB has released its IFRS 19 disclosure tracker. This tracker will assist preparers in applying the new standard and maps the disclosure requirements in IFRS 19 Subsidiaries without Public Accountability: Disclosures to their equivalent disclosures in other IFRS Accounting Standards. The IASB has issued its December 2024 update and podcast. Following its exposure draft on Contracts for Renewable Energy earlier this year (to which the Institute issued a response to), the IASB has acted swiftly in issuing targeted amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures. These amendments are intended to help companies better report the financial effects of nature-dependent electricity contracts, which are often structured as power purchase agreements. The FRC has issued a draft three year strategy for 2025-28 along with a draft Plan and Budget for 2025-26. In its recent podcast, the IFRS Interpretations Committee chair, Bruce McKenzie discussed some of the decisions made at its recent committee meeting held on 26th November. This includes discussions on; Application of IAS 29 to identify when an economy becomes hyperinflationary Expenditure on carbon credits and R&D activities, and whether these meet the requirements in IAS 38 to be recognised as an intangible asset Accountancy Europe has issued its December 2024 Newsletter. EFRAG, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group, has announced that it has completed its due process regarding the Amendments to IFRS Accounting Standards contained in Annual Improvements to IFRS Accounting Standards – Volume 11. Following the completion of this due process, it has submitted its Endorsement Advice to the European Commission, recommending the endorsement of the Amendments. EFRAG has published its November 2024 update and have also published an updated Endorsement Status Report, which reflects the publication of the targeted amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 discussed earlier. The IFRS Foundation have published proposed updates to its Due Process Handbook to reflect the creation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). The UK Endorsement Board (UKEB) has published its Final Comment Letter and Feedback Statement on the IASB’s Exposure Draft on Equity Method of Accounting–IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures The IFRS Foundation’s annual conference will be held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge on 23–24 June 2025 with details to follow in early 2025. Andreas Barckow, Chair of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), delivered a keynote address at the EFRAG Conference on 10 December. He explained how IFRS Accounting Standards build transparency and trust in financial markets and connect global markets through a common financial language. Sustainability EFRAG has added further non-authoritative technical explanations to its compilation of explanations that are intended to assist stakeholders in the implementation of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRSs). EFRAG has announced that it has delivered its technical advice on the Voluntary SME (“VSME”) standard to the European Commission. The VSME is designed for undertakings that are not in the mandatory scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (‘CSRD’) and the standard aims to replace the current practice of multiple uncoordinated data requests for ESG information with a standardised set of information that stakeholders can use to fulfil their reporting needs. EFRAG has also released some educational videos on the VSME standard. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) recently launched a webcast series to discuss how IFRS Accounting Standards and IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards complement each other.   The ISSB has issued its December 2024 update and podcast. Accountancy Europe has published its December 2024 update. The FRC, in its role as the Secretariat to the UK Sustainability Disclosure Technical Advisory Committee, has published the Committee’s final recommendations to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, recommending endorsement of the first two IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards for use in the UK. The committee has recommended some minor amendments to IFRS S1 and S2, as well as requesting additional guidance to assist with implementation. Anti-money laundering /sanctions The European Commission: Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, has in recent months issued a report mapping and providing an in-depth analysis of High-risk areas of corruption in the EU The report is described by the Commission as a report to advance the EU’s Anti-Corruption Strategy to combat corruption and reduce its harm to society. It maps high-risk areas and provides an in-depth analysis of the nature of and reasons behind these risks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) The European Commission recently hosted 2 webinars one on November 28 2024 exploring the Architecture of the AI Act and offering participants an in-depth look into the AI Act objectives, its risk-based framework, and the governance mechanisms it introduces, including the central role of the EU AI Office. The event was public and open to everyone. The recording of the webinar and the slides can be accessed here. Second Webinar on the architecture of the AI Act was held on 17 December 2024 where AI Office experts continued exploring the nature of the AI Act to enable its smooth implementation. Click for further details and to access a copy of the recording. Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)  CBI has published - a review of the regulatory framework for credit union lending, and launched a public consultation on proposed changes to the framework. - its latest Q4 2024 Quarterly CBI Bulletin  which contains its projections for the Irish economy. The report headlines steady growth and lower inflation in the Irish economy, but that geo-economic risks are rising. -the first edition of its ‘Investment Funds Supervision Bulletin’. CBI states that the purpose of the Bulletin is to inform industry participants of the Central Bank’s areas of recent and ongoing focus, and to provide an insight into future priorities. It is intended that the Bulletin will complement other forms of industry engagement, and CBI hopes to publish a bulletin of this nature annually. CBI also welcomed the publication this month of the outcome of the OECD review of Central Bank of Ireland’s consumer protection supervisory functions. It had commissioned the OECD to review its supervisory functions against the global standards for financial consumer protection. The OECD assessment found that the Central Bank is strongly committed to fostering and upholding the G20/OECD Principles, which are the international standard for effective and comprehensive financial consumer protection frameworks. It also found that CBI aligns with international standards and that its practices are consistent with peer regulators. Finally in CBI news, CBI has appointed Ms Mary-Elizabeth McMunn as Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation.  She will take up her role on 1 January 2025. Legislation The Dept. of Enterprise Trade &Employment (DETE) has announced that the Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation has signed the Commencement Order for the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 with all provisions of the Act commencing on 6 January 2025. Readers will find more information on the Act in a news item of  November 2023 on the Screening of Third Country Transactions Act 2023 and details of and a link to draft guidance issued under the Act in our news round up dated 1 March 2024. Other In an interesting and thought provoking piece entitled “10 principles for policymakers to reduce administrative burdens for companies”, Accountancy Europe have shared some recommendations for policymakers to ensure that the expected reforms on simplification and administrative burden reduction are genuine and impactful for businesses. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published a consultation proposing revisions to Technical Actuarial Standard 300: Pensions (TAS 300) to reflect recent developments in pension scheme funding. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is hosting its conference “Shaping the future of EU capital markets” on 5 February 2025 in Paris, France.  The latest December 2024 newsletter has been issued by the Irish Charities Regulator. It includes links to the Regulator’s overview of the latest charities’ legislation and protecting your charity from cybercrime. Please click here to read the Regulator’s overview of the Charities Amendment Act 2024. Please click to listen to a podcast from Carmichael, the training and support body for non-profits. Here they speak with Director of Civil Enforcement with the Corporate Enforcement Authority Fallon Judge on dealing with compliance with company law. The Director discusses her role in the CEA and the work of the Corporate Enforcement Authority in relation to charities and their directors. Charities with an annual reporting deadline of 31 January 2025 are being encouraged to submit their annual return to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on time. The Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital & Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD has appointed Ms Aisling Kennedy as Chairperson of IAASA from 21 December 2024. Aisling is a current member of the board and has broad experience as a company director in a range of areas.   Wishing all of our members a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2025!     This information is provided as resources and information only and nothing in the information 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 information. 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 the information 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 herein.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published FRED 86 “Draft amendments to FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework”, which has proposed some amendments to the FRS 101 standard. FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework sets out an optional reduced disclosure framework that is available for the individual financial statements of subsidiaries and ultimate parents that otherwise apply the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements of adopted IFRS. The standard is intended to enable cost effective financial reporting within groups to reduce reporting burdens, particularly for those applying IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements. Each year, the FRC carry out a review of the standard to decide whether FRS 101 should provide exemptions from new disclosure requirements or whether other consequential amendments are required. In FRED 86, the FRC have proposed some amendments to the standard, including; Amendments to exempt most qualifying entities from the disclosure requirements in IFRS 18 related to management-defined performance measures Amendments to exempt qualifying entities from the disclosure of a disaggregation of specified expenses classified by nature (as set out in paragraph 83(b) of IFRS 18), and An amendment to prevent entities from applying both FRS 101 and IFRS 19 The proposed amendments will now be subject to a consultation period, with comments welcomed by the FRC until 7 March 2025.