● First national strategy to strengthen Ireland’s fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
● Most significant strengthening of Ireland’s financial crime framework in years
● Tánaiste: “Ireland will not be a safe place to launder criminal proceeds.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris T.D., is today launching Ireland’s first National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Strategy, setting out a comprehensive plan to strengthen the State’s response to financial crime and protect Ireland’s economy, businesses and citizens.
The Strategy underpins the most significant strengthening of Ireland’s anti-money laundering framework in years and delivers a whole-of-government approach to preventing criminals, fraudsters and terrorist financiers from exploiting Ireland’s financial system.
Preparation of this Strategy closely follows on from the recently-published 2026 National Risk Assessment (NRA) on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing and its associated Priority Action Implementation Plan.
Launching the Strategy, the Tánaiste said it sends a clear message that Ireland will continue to take a robust approach to tackling organised crime, strengthening financial integrity and maintaining the country’s reputation as one of the safest and most trusted places in Europe to do business.
The National Anti-Money Laundering Strategy is built around five strategic priorities:
- Strengthening national coordination;
- Better identifying and understanding of financial crime risks;
- Delivering a stronger regulatory framework;
- Building capability across Government and the private sector; and
- Enhancing international cooperation.
The Strategy includes a series of significant reforms that will:
- Strengthen anti-money laundering rules for crypto-assets and crypto transfers, making it more difficult for criminals to move illicit funds anonymously.
- Deliver Ireland’s implementation of the European Union’s new Anti-Money Laundering legislative package, ensuring Ireland remains at the forefront of international best practice.
- Increase transparency around company ownership, making it harder for criminals to hide behind complex corporate structures
- Introduce new disclosure requirements for Limited Partnerships and other higher-risk corporate vehicles.
- Modernise financial intelligence capabilities to better identify, trace and disrupt criminal financial networks.
- Strengthen intelligence sharing between Government Departments, An Garda Síochána, Revenue, FIU Ireland, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Central Bank and financial institutions.
- Enhance the State’s ability to detect cyber-enabled fraud, sanctions evasion and other emerging financial crime threats.
- Strengthen supervision of financial institutions and improve oversight of sectors particularly vulnerable to money laundering, including gambling.
- Support Ireland’s preparations for its next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation, the independent international assessment of Ireland’s effectiveness in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
Launching the Strategy, Tánaiste Simon Harris TD said:
“Financial crime causes real harm to people, families, businesses and communities across Ireland. Behind every scam, every fraud and every money laundering operation are real victims.
“Criminal organisations are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They are exploiting new technologies, crypto-assets and complex international financial networks to conceal criminal profits. Government must continue to stay ahead of those threats.
“This Strategy underpins the most significant strengthening of Ireland’s anti-money laundering framework in years.
“It will give our law enforcement agencies stronger tools, improve intelligence sharing across the State, strengthen oversight of emerging risks and ensure Ireland continues to meet the highest international standards.
“Today’s launch sends a clear message: Ireland will not be a safe place to launder criminal proceeds. We will continue to pursue organised criminals, protect our financial system and safeguard Ireland’s reputation as one of the safest and most trusted places in Europe to live, work and do business.”
“Implementation of the Strategy is already underway and will be delivered through close cooperation between Government departments, law enforcement agencies, regulators and the private sector.
“Together, the reforms will strengthen Ireland’s ability to detect, prevent and disrupt money laundering, terrorist financing and other forms of financial crime while protecting citizens, businesses and the integrity of Ireland’s financial system.”
