Tánaiste to meet Swedish finance minister to discuss Ireland's new savings investment account plans

Mr Harris is in Brussels as part of a two-day meeting of EU finance ministers

Mon, 04 May, 2026 - 01:15

Martin Claffey

Tánaiste and finance minister Simon Harris will meet his Swedish finance counterpart Elisabeth Svantesson this week to discuss Ireland's plan for a new savings scheme in Brussels.

Mr Harris is set to announce the new Personal Investment Account as part of Budget 2027 in October. Sweden's ISK tax-efficient savings investment account has been considered as a potential model for the new Irish savings investment scheme.

Mr Harris is attending the Eurogroup and Ecofin meetings in Brussels as part of a two-day meeting of EU finance ministers where the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East crisis will also be discussed, with ministers analysing the supports implemented by Ireland and other countries to deal with the ongoing fuel crisis.

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“This is the first in-person meeting of EU finance ministers since governments across the EU implemented significant budgetary measures to protect citizens and businesses from the unacceptable rising cost of energy as a result of the crisis in the Middle East. I look forward to receiving an update from the European Commission on the EU response so far and sharing views with colleagues on policy measures taken at national level," said Mr Harris.

“This is also the last meeting of EU finance ministers to be held in Brussels before Ireland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union in July. With this in mind, I will have a number of bilateral meetings on the margins of the meetings including with my Swedish counterpart with the proposed new Investment Account for 2027 and the Irish Presidency as our focus."

Mr Harris said a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) will discuss the EU's market integration and supervision package, "a key EU pillar of the broader savings and investment union agenda which is of particular importance to Ireland and our financial services sector. This package aims to mobilise private savings for more productive use which will in turn support the long-term financial wellbeing of citizens in Ireland and the EU."

Eurogroup will also receive a presentation on the Kukies-Noyer report, which aims to boost opportunities for EU companies looking to scale-up.

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