National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Strategy 2026

Editor’s note: The gov.ie publication page hosts the strategy as a PDF. The text below is drawn from the Department of Finance launch statement of 13 August 2026, which accompanies the publication.

Ireland has published its first National Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the 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. Its preparation closely follows the recently published 2026 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation Financing and its associated Priority Action Implementation Plan.

Five strategic priorities

Strengthening national coordination
Better identifying and understanding financial crime risks
Delivering a stronger regulatory framework
Building capability across Government and the private sector
Enhancing international cooperation

Reforms included in the Strategy

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.
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 Mutual Evaluation.

Comment

Launching the Strategy, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance 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.

Article Credit: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-finance/publications/national-anti-money-laundering-countering-the-financing-of-terrorism-and-countering-proliferation-financing-strategy-2026/