Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010

Number 6 of 2010

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING) ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 28 February 2024

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024  (5/2024), enacted 28 February 2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Finance (State Guarantees, International Financial Institution Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 69 of 2024), made 28 February 2024, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.


Number 6 of 2010


CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING) ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 28 February 2024


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary

Section

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Regulations.

4. Repeals and revocations.

5. Expenses.

PART 2

Money Laundering Offences

6. Interpretation (Part 2).

7. Money laundering occurring in State.

8. Money laundering outside State in certain circumstances.

9. Attempts, outside State, to commit offence in State.

10. Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring outside State commission of offence in State.

11. Presumptions and other matters.

12. Location of proceedings relating to offences committed outside State.

13. Consent of DPP required for proceedings for offences committed outside State.

14. Certificate may be evidence in proceedings under this Part.

15. Double jeopardy.

16. Revenue offence committed outside State.

PART 3

Directions, Orders and Authorisations Relating to Investigations

17. Direction or order not to carry out service or transaction.

18. Notice of direction or order.

19. Revocation of direction or order on application.

20. Order in relation to property subject of direction or order.

21. Cessation of direction or order on cessation of investigation.

22. Suspicious transaction report not to be disclosed.

23. Authorisation to proceed with act that would otherwise comprise money laundering.

PART 4

Provisions Relating to Finance Services Industry, Professional Service Providers and Others

Chapter 1

Interpretation (Part 4)

24. Definitions.

25. Meaning of “designated person”.

26. Beneficial owner in relation to bodies corporate.

27. Beneficial owner in relation to partnerships.

28. Beneficial owner in relation to trusts.

29. Beneficial owner in relation to estates of deceased persons.

30. Other persons who are beneficial owners.

Chapter 1A

Risk assessment by designated persons

30A. Business risk assessment by designated persons

30B. Application of risk assessment in applying customer due diligence

Chapter 2

Designation of places other than Member States — procedures for detecting money laundering or terrorist financing

31. Designation of places imposing requirements equivalent to Third Money Laundering Directive. (Repealed)

32. Designation of places having inadequate procedures for detection of money laundering or terrorist financing. (Repealed)

Chapter 3

Customer Due Diligence

33. Identification and verification of customers and beneficial owners.

33A. Electronic money derogation.

34. Exemptions from section 33. (Repealed)

34A. Simplified customer due diligence.

35. Special measures applying to business relationships.

36. Exemption from section 35(1). (Repealed)

36A. Examination of background and purpose of certain transactions.

37. Enhanced customer due diligence — politically exposed persons.

38. Enhanced customer due diligence — correspondent banking relationships.

38A. Enhanced customer due diligence — high-risk third countries.

39. Designated person’s discretion to apply additional enhanced customer due diligence measures.

40. Reliance on other persons to carry out customer due diligence.

Chapter 3A

Financial Intelligence Unit

40A. State Financial Intelligence Unit.

40B. Powers of FIU Ireland to receive and analyse information.

40C. Powers of certain members of FIU Ireland to obtain information.

40CA. Requests by FIU Ireland to Article 3(2) authorities.

40D. Power of FIU Ireland to respond to requests for information from competent authorities.

40DA. Requests by Article 3(2) authorities to FIU Ireland.

40E. Power of FIU Ireland to share information.

40F. Exchange of financial information or financial analysis.

40G. Exchange of information between Europol and FIU Ireland.

40H. Processing of certain special categories of personal data.

40I. Records of certain information requests.

Chapter 4

Reporting of suspicious transactions and of transactions involving certain places

41. Interpretation (Chapter 4).

42. Requirement for designated persons and related persons to report suspicious transactions.

43. Requirement for designated persons to report transactions connected with places designated under section 32. (Repealed)

44. Defence — internal reporting procedures.

45. Use of reported and other information in investigations.

46. Disclosure not required in certain circumstances.

47. Disclosure not to be treated as breach.

Chapter 5

Tipping off by designated persons

48. Interpretation (Chapter 5).

49. Tipping off.

50. Defence — disclosure to customer in case of direction or order to suspend service or transaction.

51. Defences — disclosures within undertaking or group.

52. Defences — other disclosures between institutions or professionals.

53. Defences — other disclosures.

Chapter 6

Internal policies and procedures, training and record keeping

54. Internal policies and procedures and training.

55. Keeping of records by designated persons.

Chapter 7

Special provisions applying to credit and financial institutions

56. Measures for retrieval of information relating to business relationships.

57. Group-wide policies and procedures.

57A. Additional measures where implementation of policies and procedures is not possible.

58. Anonymous accounts.

59. Relationships between credit institutions and shell banks.

Chapter 8

Monitoring of designated persons

60. Meaning of “competent authority”.

61. Agreements between competent authorities where more than one applicable.

62. Meaning of “State competent authority”.

63. General functions of competent authorities.

63A. Supervision

63B. Co-operation with Member State competent authorities.

63C. Supervision by competent authorities.

63D. Duties of competent authorities.

63E. Reporting breaches to competent authority.

64. Application of other enactments.

65. Annual reporting.

66. Request to bodies to provide names, addresses and other information relating to designated persons.

67. Direction to furnish information or documents.

68. Direction to provide explanation of documents.

69. Purpose of direction under section 67 or 68.

70. Self-incrimination (sections 67 and 68).

71. Direction to designated person to comply with obligations under this Part.

72. Appointment of authorised officers.

73. Warrant of appointment.

74. Powers may only be exercised for assisting State competent authority.

75. General power of authorised officers to enter premises.

76. Entry into residential premises only with permission or warrant.

77. Power of authorised officers to do things at premises.

78. Entry to premises and doing of things under warrant.

79. Authorised officer may be accompanied by others.

80. Offence to obstruct, interfere or fail to comply with request.

81. Self-incrimination — questions of authorised officers.

82. Production of documents or information not required in certain circumstances.

83. Disclosure or production not to be treated as breach or to affect lien.

Chapter 9

Authorisation of Trust or Company Service Providers

84. Interpretation (Chapter 9).

85. Meaning of “fit and proper person”.

86. Authorisations held by partnerships.

87. Prohibition on carrying on business of trust or company service provider without authorisation.

88. Application for authorisation.

89. Grant and refusal of applications for authorisation.

90. Minister may impose conditions when granting an application for an authorisation.

91. Terms of authorisation.

92. Renewal of authorisation.

93. Minister may amend authorisation.

94. Offence to fail to comply with conditions or prescribed requirements.

95. Holder of authorisation to ensure that principal officers and beneficial owners are fit and proper persons.

96. Revocation of authorisation by Minister on application of holder.

97. Revocation of authorisation other than on application of holder.

98. Direction not to carry out business other than as directed.

99. Minister to publish notice of revocation or direction.

100. Appeals against decisions of Minister.

101. Appeal Tribunals. (Repealed)

101A. Appeal Tribunal.

102. Provision of information by Garda Síochána as to whether or not person is fit and proper person.

103. Extension of powers under Chapter 8 for purposes related to this Chapter.

104. Register of persons holding authorisations.

105. Minister to publish list of persons holding authorisations.

106. Holders of authorisations to retain certain records.

Chapter 9A

Virtual Asset Service Providers

106A. Interpretation.

106B. Fit and proper person.

106C. Registrations held by partnerships.

106D. Scope of Bank’s supervision - performance of certain functions.

106E. Obligation on virtual asset service providers to register with Bank.

106F. Transitional provision for existing virtual asset service providers.

106G. Application for registration.

106H. Grant and refusal of applications for registration.

106I. Bank may impose conditions when granting an application for registration.

106J. Terms of registration.

106K. Bank may amend registration.

106L. Regulatory disclosure statement.

106M. Offence to fail to comply with conditions or prescribed requirements.

106N. Holder of registration to ensure that beneficial owners are fit and proper persons.

106O. Revocation of registration by Bank on application of holder.

106P. Revocation of registration other than on application of holder.

106Q. Direction not to carry out business other than as directed.

106R. Bank to publish notice of revocation.

106S. Register of Virtual Asset Service Providers.

106T. Restriction on acquisition of beneficial interest in holders of registrations.

106U. Powers of Bank in relation to beneficial owners.

106V. Obligation on holder of registration to report certain suspicions to Bank.

106W. Provision of information by Garda Síochána as to whether or not person is fit and proper person.

106X. Bank’s power to make regulations.

106Y. Holders of registrations to retain certain records.

Chapter 9B

Designation of Classes of Express Trust (and Matters Related to Such Trusts) for Certain Purposes

106Z. Purpose of Chapter.

106ZA. Operation and interpretation (Chapter 9B).

106ZB. Power to prescribe certain matters.

106ZC. Relevant trust - designated meaning.

106ZD. Beneficial owner in relation to relevant trusts - designated meaning.

Chapter 10

Other

107. Guidelines. (Repealed)

107A. Defence.

108. Minister may delegate certain functions under this Part.

108A. Obligation for certain designated persons to register with Central Bank of Ireland.

108B. Obligation for cheque cashing offices to register with Central Bank of Ireland.

108C. Cancellation of registration and removal from register.

108D. Notice of refusal or cancellation of registration and right to make representations.

108E. Registration subject to conditions.

108F. Person registered to ensure that principal officers and beneficial owners are fit and proper persons.

108G. Direction not to carry out business other than as directed.

108H. Provision of information by Garda Síochána as to whether or not person is fit and proper person.

108I. Persons registered to retain certain records.

109. Registration of persons directing private members’ clubs.

109A. Managers and beneficial owners of private members’ clubs to hold certificates of fitness.

109B. Application for certificate of fitness.

109C. Grounds of refusal to grant certificate of fitness.

109D. Duration of certificate of fitness.

109E. Appeal where application for certificate of fitness is refused.

PART 5

Miscellaneous

110. Service of documents.

111. Offences — directors and others of bodies corporate and unincorporated bodies.

112. Disclosure of information in good faith.

113. Amendment of Bail Act 1997.

114. Amendment of Central Bank Act 1942.

114A. Prescribed amounts under section 33AQ of Central Bank Act 1942 in respect of certain contraventions.

115. Amendment of Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961.

116. Consequential amendment of Central Bank Act 1997.

117. Consequential amendment of Criminal Justice Act 1994.

118. Consequential amendment of Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008.

119. Consequential amendment of Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

120. Consequential amendment of Investor Compensation Act 1998.

121. Consequential amendment of Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.

122. Consequential amendment of Taxi Regulation Act 2003.

SCHEDULE 1

Revocations of Statutory Instruments

SCHEDULE 2

Annex I to Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 201313 on Access to the Activity of Credit Institutions and the Prudential Supervision of Credit Institutions and Investment Firms, Amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC

List of Activities Subject to Mutual Recognition

SCHEDULE 3

Non-exhaustive list of factors suggesting potentially lower risk

SCHEDULE 4

Non-exhaustive list of factors suggesting potentially higher risk



Number 6 of 2010


CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING) ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 28 February 2024


AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR OFFENCES OF, AND RELATED TO, MONEY LAUNDERING IN AND OUTSIDE THE STATE; TO GIVE EFFECT TO DIRECTIVE 2005/60/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 26 OCTOBER 2005 ON THE PREVENTION OF THE USE OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORIST FINANCING; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS DIRECTING PRIVATE MEMBERS’ CLUBS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE CENTRAL BANK ACT 1942 AND THE COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSEQUENTIAL REPEAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1994; THE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT OF CERTAIN ENACTMENTS AND THE REVOCATION OF CERTAIN STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[5th May, 2010]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Annotations

Modifications (not altering text):

C1

Sanctions for breaches under Act prescribed (31.03.2014) by European Union (Capital Requirements) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 158 of 2014), reg. 55(1), 3(o).

Other provisions on administrative penalties

55. (1) Notwithstanding Part IIIC of the Act of 1942 and the sanctions set out in section 33AQ of the Act of 1942, sanctions may be imposed by the Bank following an inquiry under section 33AO of the Act of 1942 for the contraventions listed in paragraph (3) and may include any or all of the following:

(a) a public statement that identifies the natural person, institution, financial holding company or mixed-financial holding company responsible, and the nature of the breach concerned;

(b) an order requiring the natural or legal person responsible to cease, and desist from, the conduct concerned;

(c) in the case of an institution, withdrawal of the licence or authorisation of the institution in accordance with the enactment under which the licence or authorisation was granted;

(d) subject to Regulation 150, a temporary ban against a member of the institutions management body or any other natural person, who is held responsible, from exercising functions in institutions;

(e) subject to paragraph (2), in the case of a legal person, administrative pecuniary penalties of up to 10 per cent of the total annual net turnover including the gross income consisting of—

(i) interest receivable and similar income,

(ii) income from shares and other variable or fixed-yield securities, and

(iii) commissions or fees receivable, in accordance with Article 316 of the Capital Requirements Regulation, of the undertaking in the preceding business year;

(f) in the case of a natural person, administrative pecuniary penalties of up to €5,000,000;

(g) administrative pecuniary penalties of up to twice the amount of the profits gained or losses avoided because of the breach where those can be determined.

...

(3) The contraventions referred to in paragraph (1) are the following: ...

(o) an institution is found liable for a serious breach of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (No. 6 of 2010);

...

C2

Functions transferred and references to “Department of Public Expenditure and Reform” and “Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform” construed (14.12.2011) by the Public Expenditure and Reform (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 647 of 2011), in effect as per art. 1(2).

2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of any functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Finance.

(2) References to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform contained in any Act or instrument made under an act and relating to the administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Finance.

3. The functions conferred on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform by or under sections 3 and 107(1) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (No. 6 of 2010) are transferred to the Minister for Finance.

4. References to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform contained in any Act or instrument made under an Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Finance.

C3

Functions transferred and references to “Department of Finance” and “Minister for Finance” construed (29.07.2011) by Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 2, 3, 5 and sch. 1 part 2, in effect as per art. 1(2).

2. (1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of any functions transferred by this Order are transferred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

(2) References to the Department of Finance contained in any Act or instrument made thereunder and relating to the administration and business transferred by paragraph (1) shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

3. The functions conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under the provisions of —

(a) the enactments specified in Schedule 1, and

(b) the statutory instruments specified in Schedule 2,

are transferred to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

5. References to the Minister for Finance contained in any Act or instrument under an Act and relating to any functions transferred by this Order shall, from the commencement of this Order, be construed as references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

Schedule 1

Enactments

...

Part 2

1922 to 2011 Enactments

Number and Year

Short Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 6 of 2010

Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010

Sections 3, 101(4) and 107(1)

...

...

...

Editorial Notes:

E1

Offences under ss. 7, 8, 9, 10, 35, 37, 38, 42 and 49 prescribed as “relevant offences” for purposes of Criminal Justice Act 2011 (22/2011) (9.08.2011) by Criminal Justice Act 2011 (22/2011), s. 3(1) and sch. 1 par. 21, S.I. No. 411 of 2011.