In February 2018, Euroclear published a White Paper "Euroclear Ireland – Delivering continuity of Irish securities settlement post Brexit". This paper described the proposed structure and services of a new post-Brexit CSD in Dublin for Irish corporate securities, to be called ‘Euroclear Ireland’, which would need to be authorised and regulated, including by the Central Bank of Ireland under the EU CSD Regulation.
In this White Paper we noted that, while Euroclear had made a decision in principle to seek to establish a new CSD in Ireland, the establishment of ‘Euroclear Ireland’ was subject to a number of factors outside Euroclear’s control including approval by stakeholders and regulators. In addition, the continued uncertainty over the precise nature of the UK’s relationship with the EU after March 2019 meant that it was possible that other solutions, delivered to different time-lines, might also be appropriate.
Following recent discussions with the Central Bank of Ireland and the Bank of England, Euroclear has ceased work on the development of ‘Euroclear Ireland’ as originally proposed and will now pursue alternative solutions for Irish securities settlement.
Euroclear UK & Ireland’s intention is to continue to offer settlement services in respect of Irish securities against euro, sterling and dollars on an interim basis after March 2019. This is subject to dependencies outside Euroclear’s control including regulatory approvals and Euroclear is working with relevant authorities in this respect. We note however, that the Agreement on 23 March 2018 between the EU and UK on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union ('The Withdrawal Agreement') contains a 21 month Implementation or Transition Period.
Euroclear will now explore other potential settlement solutions for Irish securities. To that end, Euroclear will work with the authorities and with its Irish User Committee and other stakeholders over the coming weeks to consult on, and develop further, these longer term options for Irish securities settlement.
