Skip to main content
Normal View

Money Laundering

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2017

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Questions (57)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the reason the State is not fully implementing EU anti-money laundering directive four in relation to the beneficial ownership of trusts; and if it will be fully implemented. [44563/17]

View answer

Written answers

The EU’s Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (“4AMLD”) includes a number of measures to combat money laundering and protect the integrity of the financial system, efforts to which Ireland is committed. More specifically, in relation to the beneficial ownership of trusts, Article 31 of the Directive contains an obligation on trustees of express trusts to obtain and hold information on the beneficial ownership of the trust, that is details of the person or persons who ultimately exercise ownership or control over the trust. It also requires trustees to make this information available to competent authorities and FIUs (Financial Intelligence Units) in a timely manner and to disclose this information to obliged entities in specific circumstances. The deadline set by the Commission for transposition was 26 June 2017. 

However, since the final text of 4AMLD was published the Commission has (July 2016) proposed amendments which were intended to make extensive changes to Article 31 of 4AMLD. We were awaiting the outcome of these negotiations so that they could be incorporated into our transposition. Unfortunately, discussions have not progressed sufficiently to facilitate this approach. For this reason and also due to the technical complexity of the measures and the need to engage with stakeholders to discuss an appropriate framework for the collection of this data, the transposition deadline has been passed. This is the case with many other member states who are also still progressing their transpositions. Having said this, work on transposing this directive is progressing and draft legislation to enact the requirements of Article 31 is with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for their consideration.

Top
Share