The development of international financial services has a vital role to play in underpinning the growth and success of the Irish economy, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking at the annual lunch for the International Financial Services Industry at Dublin Castle today, Mr Ahern said the industry continues to make a major contribution to the Irish economy in terms of employment and corporation tax yield.
The Taoiseach noted it was becoming "increasingly clear" that the education and skills-gap issue is "centrally important to the development of the international financial services industry".
He said he was glad the importance of this issue had been recognised by the fact that the work of the Financial Services Skills Group is already under way.
Mr Ahern urged the industry to make its input into the process to ensure the study is as comprehensive and relevant as possible.
The Taoiseach also noted the Government had recently agreed to begin a "programme of consolidation" and modernisation of the legislative framework for the regulation of financial services and the establishment of the Financial Legislation Advisory Forum.
"This decision demonstrates the Government's commitment to moving forward proactively on the strategic agenda for the development of financial services," he said.
Mr Ahern said the Financial Regulator's recently published strategic plan for the first time explicitly outlines the regulatory principles it expects financial services firms to live up to.
"These include, among others, the need for ethical leadership, good governance, sound risk management, a willingness to engage with the Regulator and relevant public disclosure and, very importantly, a commitment to protect customers," Mr Ahern said.