The Government agreed in December 2011 to address the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling of September 2011 and to have my Department work with the VHI in its application process for authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). Officials from my Department, the VHI and the CBI continue to to engage regularly to progress this application.
Department officials are also in regular contact with the DG Internal Market and Services in relation to addressing the ECJ judgment and with DG Competition regarding related State Aid issues and in addressing an alleged unlimited State guarantee.
The Government will make a decision on capitalisation of the VHI when the CBI has determined the amount of any capital requirements and the EU Commission has approved a capital injection under State aid rules.