T+2 to become Standard Settlement for Secondary Markets for Irish Government Bonds from 6 October 2014
15 May 2014 - The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) announces that Ireland will introduce T+2 as the standard settlement period in over-the-counter (OTC) secondary markets for Irish government bonds, as of 6 October 2014.
The text of the regulation on Securities Settlement and Central Securities Depositories (CSDR), adopted by the European Parliament on 15 April, includes inter alia the harmonisation of the settlement period for transferable securities executed on trading venues across Europe at two business days after the trading took place (T+2).
In line with the CSDR and the decision of the trading venues, Ireland along with the debt managers of the other 27 EU Member States (Press Release issued by EU Sovereign Debt Markets Sub Committee, 153 KB, PDF format) have agreed to support a harmonised implementation of T+2 as standard settlement period for OTC secondary market transactions in government bonds, to become effective as of 6 October 2014.
As is currently the case, on a bilateral basis, it will still remain possible to agree another settlement date other than the standard T+2 for OTC transactions.
As far as primary markets are concerned, Ireland aims to further harmonise the standard settlement period for government bond auctions in line with a settlement cycle of no more than T+2. An announcement to this effect will be made in due course.
For further information on Irish government bonds please refer to https://www.ntma.ie