Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris TD has unveiled Ireland's 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 defences against financial crime and protect the economy, businesses and citizens. The Strategy was published on 13 August 2026 by the Department of Finance.

Described as the most significant upgrade to Ireland's financial crime framework in years, the plan adopts a whole-of-government approach to preventing criminals, fraudsters and terrorist financiers from exploiting the Irish financial system. Its development follows the recently published 2026 National Risk Assessment and the associated Priority Action Implementation Plan.

Officials said the Strategy signals a robust, sustained response to organised crime, with the aim of reinforcing financial integrity and preserving Ireland's standing as one of Europe's safest and most trusted places to do business.

The plan is built around five priorities: strengthening national coordination; improving the identification and understanding of financial crime risks; delivering a stronger regulatory framework; building capability across government and the private sector; and enhancing international cooperation.

Key reforms will tighten rules for crypto-assets and transfers to make anonymous movement of illicit funds more difficult; implement the European Union's new anti-money laundering legislative package; increase transparency of company ownership; introduce new disclosure requirements for limited partnerships and other higher-risk corporate vehicles; modernise financial intelligence to better identify, trace and disrupt criminal networks; and expand intelligence sharing among State bodies and financial institutions.

The measures also enhance the State's ability to detect cyber-enabled fraud, sanctions evasion and other emerging threats, strengthen supervision of financial institutions, improve oversight of vulnerable sectors including gambling, and support preparations for Ireland's next Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation. Under EU rules, the Strategy extends anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing obligations to crypto-asset transfers, requiring information on the originator and beneficiary to accompany transactions. These Transfer of Funds Regulation provisions, known as the 'Travel Rule', introduce new obligations for crypto-asset service providers, including enhanced checks on transfers involving private wallets and stricter due diligence when dealing with overseas crypto firms.

Legislative steps already taken include statutory instruments arising from the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive to enable access to national beneficial ownership registers based on legitimate interest. This applies to the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts operated by the Revenue Commissioners, the Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial and Provident Societies, and the Register of Beneficial Ownership of Certain Financial Vehicles under the Central Bank of Ireland.

Preparation of the Strategy involved consultation with the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Committee (AMLSC), which provides national-level oversight and alignment across departments and agencies. A new inter-agency subgroup on Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing has also held its inaugural meeting to coordinate and assess any further actions required in these areas.

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."