Ireland launches first National Anti-Money Laundering Strategy

Ireland has launched its first National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Strategy. Announced by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, the initiative aims to strengthen the state’s defenses against financial crime and ensure Ireland does not become a safe haven for laundering criminal proceeds.

The strategy focuses on several key areas, including tightening regulations for cryptocurrency assets and transfers, increasing transparency regarding complex corporate ownership structures, and enhancing oversight of vulnerable sectors such as the gambling industry. It builds upon the 2026 National Risk Assessment and recent EU anti-money laundering laws.

A central component of the plan is the improvement of intelligence and information sharing between government departments, law enforcement agencies like An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Central Bank of Ireland, and private financial institutions. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) has welcomed the launch, noting that enhanced public-private collaboration is essential to combat increasingly sophisticated, technology-enabled, and cross-border financial crimes.