Ailbhe MacManus, Partner, EY Ireland: Ireland’s asset management industry operates as the essential infrastructure for achieving the EU’s Savings and Investments Union (SIU) objectives. EU-based investors have €1 trillion of investments in Irish domiciled funds giving them access to investments in Europe and globally. And by attracting global capital into the EU, Irish domiciled funds have €1 trillion invested into assets across the EU. We are the third largest global fund domicile and second largest in Europe, meaning that Ireland’s asset management industry is not merely positioned to support SIU goals – we are fundamental to their realisation.

SIU Leadership: Ireland is the domicile of choice for European ETFs with more than 70% of European ETFs domiciled here. It serves as the primary distribution hub for global asset managers accessing European retail and institutional markets, providing essential infrastructure for cross-border investment flows within the EU. In turn this supports standardisation of investment processes and products across member states.

Capital Markets Union Advancement: Ireland is uniquely positioned to accelerate the ambitions of the Capital Markets Union by driving innovative financing solutions beyond traditional banking. Through private credit and direct lending strategies, we can unlock new channels of growth for businesses. At the same time, specialized fund structures are enabling SMEs to access capital markets more efficiently, while the implementation of ELTIFs is creating pathways for retail investors to participate in long-term investment opportunities. These developments collectively strengthen Europe’s financial ecosystem and reinforce Ireland’s role as a catalyst for deeper, more resilient capital markets.

Digital finance: Digital finance is a significant growth area with various initiatives being developed within the EU. To support retail investors access to investment opportunities in Irish funds, there needs to be strong investor protection and empowerment and digital access to make the process of investing easier and understandable. Ireland’s asset management sector can lead the EU’s digital finance agenda by leveraging its fintech ecosystem, implementing AI and automation for efficiency, and adopting new regulations to enhance investor access and protection.