Council Decision (EU) 2023/670 of 21 March 2023 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland

Council Decision (EU) 2023/670 of 21 March 2023 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to Protocol No 4 on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 27.1 thereof, Having regard to the Recommendation of the European Central Bank of 15 February 2023 to the Council of the European Union on the external auditors of the Central Bank of Ireland (ECB/2023/1) OJ C 66, 23.2.2023, p. 1. , Whereas: (1) The accounts of the European Central Bank (ECB) and of the national central banks of the Member States whose currency is the euro are to be audited by independent external auditors recommended by the Governing Council of the ECB and approved by the Council of the European Union. (2) In 2016, Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland selected Mazars as its external auditors for the financial years 2016 to 2020. On 15 November 2021, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2021/2018 Council Decision (EU) 2021/2018 of 15 November 2021 amending Decision 1999/70/EC concerning the external auditors of the national central banks, as regards the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland (OJ L 413, 19.11.2021, p. 1). , extending the mandate of Mazars as external auditors for Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2021 to 2022. (3) The mandate of Mazars as current external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland expires after the audit for the financial year 2022. It is therefore necessary to appoint external auditors from the financial year 2023. (4) Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland has selected Grant Thornton Ireland as its external auditors for the financial years 2023 to 2027, with the option to extend the mandate to the financial years 2028 and 2029. (5) The Governing Council of the ECB recommended that Grant Thornton Ireland be appointed as the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2023 to 2027, with the option to extend the mandate to the financial years 2028 and 2029. (6) Following the recommendation of the Governing Council of the ECB, Council Decision 1999/70/EC Council Decision 1999/70/EC of 25 January 1999 concerning the external auditors of the national central banks (OJ L 22, 29.1.1999, p. 69). should be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

In Article 1 of Decision 1999/70/EC, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following: 5. Grant Thornton Ireland are hereby approved as the external auditors of Banc Ceannais na hÉireann/the Central Bank of Ireland for the financial years 2023 to 2027..

Article 2

This Decision shall take effect on the date of its notification.