Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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145. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of suspicious transaction reports that have been made to his Department on an annual basis in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019; his role in ensuring high-cash businesses comply with the Criminal Justice Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Suspicious Transaction Reports

My Department has no role in relation to the submission of Suspicious Transaction Reports, which are made to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of An Garda Síochána and to the Revenue Commissioners, by designated entities under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (as amended). Up-to-date figures as to the numbers of STRs submitted to the FIU have been requested from An Garda Síochána and I will provide them to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Compliance with the Criminal Justice Act 2013

The Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unitin the Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for ensuring compliance with certain elements of national Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing legislation.

The Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2013 and the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) (Amendment) Act 2018, consolidated Ireland’s existing anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws and transposed the Third and Fourth EU Anti-Money Laundering Directives.

The Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit (AMLCU) has been established within the Department to administer the functions of the competent authority under the Acts. A number of competent authorities are designated by the Acts, with responsibility for specific sub-sectors of businesses designated under the Acts. The AMLCU is the competent authority for

- high value cash traders such as car sales and jewellers etc

- trust or company service providers

- private members gaming clubs

- unregulated accountants/tax advisers.

The AMLCU pursues a risk-based approach to supervision. This means that, following inspections, entities/businesses are assigned one of four risk ratings (low, medium-low, medium-high or high) in accordance with a scoring template containing a range of questions. This rating, along with information on compliance levels within the different sectors, forms the basis for the prioritisation of inspections on an annual basis.

Compliance monitoring inspections are carried out by AMLCU on an ongoing basis. The businesses involved include high value cash traders such as car sales and jewellers etc., trust or company service providers, private members gaming clubs and unregulated accountants/tax advisers.

Many other agencies have a significant role in the issue of combatting money-laundering; these include the Department of Finance, Central Bank, Revenue Commissioners, certain professional regulatory bodies and An Garda Síochána.

The AMLCU continues to hold industry outreach events to inform industry stakeholders of their obligations to comply and how to do so. These events are welcomed and well attended by industry representatives. The most recent event was held on March 22^ndand was specifically targeted at high value goods dealers.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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146. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a formal working group between the Central Bank, the Revenue Commissioners and his Department on sharing important information that can be obtained from suspicious transaction reports; the frequency with which meetings are held between the Central Bank, the Revenue Commissioners and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (as amended), designated entities are required to file Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the Financial Intelligence Unit of An Garda Síochána and to the Revenue Commissioners.

The Central Bank of Ireland and the Department of Justice and Equality have no direct role in relation to STRs.

No formal working group of the type described by the Deputy exists. However, both the Central Bank of Ireland and the Department of Justice and Equality, along with the other State agencies tasked with combatting money laundering, are members of the Anti-Money Laundering Steering Committee (AMLSC), a multi-agency body chaired by the Department of Finance.

The AMLSC’s membership includes the Central Bank, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), as well as a number of other relevant Departments and bodies.

The AMLSC meets regularly, with its meetings aligned to the working schedule of the Financial Action Task Force.