Ireland Launches Its First National Anti-Money Laundering Strategy
Ireland has launched its first National Anti-Money Laundering Strategy, setting out a coordinated programme to strengthen the country’s response to money laundering, terrorist financing and wider financial crime.
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said implementation is already under way and will involve government departments, law-enforcement agencies, regulators and the private sector.
Crypto, ownership transparency and higher-risk sectors
The strategy includes stronger anti-money laundering controls for crypto-assets and crypto transfers, with the aim of making it more difficult for criminals to move illicit funds anonymously through digital channels.
It also targets the misuse of corporate structures. Ireland plans to strengthen transparency around company ownership and introduce additional disclosure requirements for limited partnerships and other higher-risk corporate vehicles.
Gambling is identified as another sector requiring stronger oversight, alongside continued strengthening of supervision for financial institutions and other sectors vulnerable to money laundering abuse.
Intelligence sharing and financial-crime capabilities
The strategy calls for stronger intelligence sharing between government departments, An Garda Síochána, Revenue, FIU Ireland, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Central Bank of Ireland and financial institutions. It also provides for modernisation of financial-intelligence capabilities and closer international cooperation.
The launch follows Ireland’s 2026 National Risk Assessment on money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing and its accompanying 30-point action plan, which addressed risks including crypto-assets, fraud, ownership transparency, gambling and inter-agency cooperation.
For regulated firms, the strategy points toward stronger risk-based supervision, greater information sharing and closer scrutiny of higher-risk products, sectors and ownership structures. The practical compliance impact will depend on how the strategy is implemented through legislation, regulatory requirements and supervisory action.
