The Central Bank has issued a warning about an unauthorised debt management firm based in Tipperary.

In a statement, the bank says Smart Resolutions Mediation Limited (Ireland) of Canopy Street in Cashel is operating illegally and is not authorised to trade.

The bank has also published a list of unauthorised persons and firms which do not have licenses to trade.

The names on the list include companies originating in Ireland, the UK, Japan, the USA, Canada and Switzerland.

"It is a criminal offence for an unauthorised person or firm to provide financial services in Ireland that would require an authorisation under the relevant legislation for which the Central Bank is the responsible body for enforcing," the bank says.

Any person wishing to contact the Central Bank with information regarding such persons or firms can phone (01)-224-4000.

The bank says that since obtaining legal powers in August 1998, the names of 246 unauthorised persons or firms have been published.