One of Dublin’s main thoroughfares was brought to a standstill for almost five hours yesterday as a distressed man threatened to jump from the roof of a six-storey building.

The selection of Frenchman Cyril Roux as financial regulator and deputy Central Bank governor in succession to Matthew Elderfield has caught a few people on the hop, although the appointment has received a broad, if cautious, welcome.

The Central Bank has imposed a €2.45m fine on the insurance firm Aviva over regulatory breaches in relation to complex financial transactions known as stock lending.

The Central Bank has issued its strategic plan for the three years from 2013-2015 which includes eight high- level goals aimed at safeguarding financial stability and protecting consumers.