McCreevy will deliver the keynote speech at Ireland's first conference of compliance officers on 26 November 26 at Dublin's Westin Hotel.

His speech is billed as 'The Blueprint for the Development of European Financial Services . . . The Legislative and Regulatory Programme', according to the agenda on the website of conference organisers (www. acoi. ie).

There is speculation that McCreevy will also use the occasion to offer an appraisal of the effects of the first month of European securities trading under the new Mifid rules that took effect last week.

McCreevy has a habit of making his more noteworthy utterances when in Ireland.

Last month he made headlines around the world while in Dublin opening the European headquarters for Wachovia bank. McCreevy slammed "irresponsible lending" for helping to bring about the global credit crunch that continues to roil world markets and forced a bail-out of Northern Rock.

Other speakers at the conference include Irish Life and Permanent chief executive Denis Casey; AIB chairman Dermot Gleeson; financial regulator Pat Neary; Irish Stock Exchange chief executive Deirdre Somers and Alan Dukes, director general of the Institute of European Affairs.

The event is seen as particularly timely due to recent events, which have reinforced the position of compliance as a top management priority in Ireland's financial services sector.

"I am delighted with the huge response, " said Sean Wade, chairman of the Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland (www. acoi. ie).

The event will offer the growing compliance industry a chance to showcase its ideas and give members an opportunity to network.

The ACOI was formed five years ago and now has 1,300 members. The conference is expected to become an annual event.