The Central Bank has found signs of some financial strain on the retail intermediary sector.
17% of such businesses, which include insurance and investment firms, reported a loss in the previous financial year.
In a report on the retail intermediary sector in Ireland, the bank notes that more than 3% of these businesses posted losses of over €100,000.
The Central Bank said the sector plays an important role in ensuring that consumers can access financial products that meet their needs as well as providing the information consumers need to make well informed decisions.
Retail Intermediaries provide various financial services to their customers, including insurance products, investment products, mortgage products, risk management and claims management.
The Central Bank is responsible for supervising 3,238 such businesses, which vary in size and activity.
Today's report shows that these businesses employ over 30,000 workers here, and hold 5 million policies or financial products for their clients.
Noting the financial strain in the sector, the Central Bank's director of consumer protection said that firms should ensure that while working to return to profitability, no actions are taken which could lead to additional risks for consumers.
''In particular, where firms grow due to acquisition they must ensure that they adapt their systems and controls to reflect the demands of a larger business and must ensure compliance with consumer protection regulations,'' Bernard Sheridan added.
He said that the Central Bank has a strong consumer protection framework in place to make sure that consumers of retail intermediaries are protected, adding that the bank has a ''clear strategy'' in place to regulate them.
''This involves regular thematic inspections of the sector whereby we assess compliance with consumer and prudential requirements and provide guidance to promote compliance, backed up by our enforcement capabilities,'' Mr Sheridan added.
