Pat Lardner Discusses Ireland’s Leadership in the Global ETF Market on Newstalk

Our CEO Pat Lardner recently joined Dr Emmet Oliver on Newstalk Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam to discuss Ireland’s continued leadership in the global exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, the evolution of ETFs, and the opportunities and challenges ahead for the industry.

Ireland is firmly established as the leading European domicile for ETFs, accounting for 78% of total European ETF assets and an impressive 96% of active ETF assets under management. During the interview, Pat highlighted that Ireland’s success has been built over more than 25 years, underpinned by being early to market, an agile and well-coordinated industry, and a strong culture of innovation across product structures, regulation, legislation and service delivery.

The Evolution of ETFs

ETFs have evolved significantly from their origins as predominantly passive investment vehicles. Today, they are increasingly used as an efficient and scalable delivery mechanism for active investment strategies. This shift is helping to broaden access to investment opportunities, particularly for newer and younger investors, and is reshaping global markets in much the same way that streaming transformed how music is consumed.

Why Ireland Continues to Lead

Ireland’s attractiveness as a global ETF hub is driven by its deep and long-established expertise, a trusted and well-understood regulatory environment, and a globally focused funds industry. Irish-domiciled funds are now distributed to investors in more than 90 countries worldwide, reinforcing Ireland’s role as a gateway to global markets.

Economic Impact

The funds industry plays a strategically important role in Ireland’s economy, supporting over 20,000 direct jobs nationwide, with 46% located outside Dublin. The sector also generates strong indirect benefits, creating an additional job for every role within the industry, contributing approximately €1 billion in annual revenue, and strengthening Ireland’s international trade and competitiveness.

Addressing Key Challenges

While Ireland is widely recognised as one of the best locations globally to establish an ETF, it remains one of the more difficult places for domestic investors to access them due to current tax treatment. Addressing this paradox will be an important consideration as the Government develops its new savings roadmap in the year ahead.

Looking Ahead

Sustaining Ireland’s leadership will depend on continued agility across product offerings, regulation, legislation and technology. Emerging trends such as private assets and tokenised fund structures will also be critical areas of focus, alongside delivering scalable, efficient and trusted solutions for global investors.

The full interview is available on Newstalk Breakfast Business, while additional insights on Ireland’s leadership in ETFs were recently published in The Business Post. Irish Funds members can also access the latest data and trends via the Member Portal and ETF screener, powered by ETFbook.

Ireland has a strong story to tell, and Irish Funds remains focused on keeping Ireland at the forefront of global fund innovation in support of investors worldwide.