Ireland’s financial services face a Four D test

Ireland’s financial sector, a €4.9 trillion asset powerhouse and third-largest financial hub in Western Europe, has enjoyed years of Brexit-fuelled growth. Yet Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warns the next chapter will be shaped by the “Four Ds” — deglobalisation, digitalisation, decarbonisation, and demographics.

Protectionist policies abroad threaten the multinational-heavy workforce, while rapid advances in AI and cybersecurity demand rare hybrid skills. A shifting green agenda risks leaving sustainability investments exposed, and demographic pressures could tighten the talent pipeline.

With the government now seeking industry input for its 2026–2030 strategy, the challenge is clear — secure Ireland’s position as a global financial leader while navigating structural change and seizing untapped growth opportunities.

Read the full article to explore what’s at stake and where the opportunities lie.