Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if additional harsher sanctions will be discussed to be applied to North Korea due to their involvement in the war against Ukraine at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. [1627/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland implements United Nations sanctions, as adopted by the United Nations Security Council, and EU restrictive measures adopted as part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. Overall, the sanctions measures introduced include extensive import and export bans, travel bans, asset freezes, transport bans and media restrictions. In December 2023, Ireland welcomed the adoption of the EU’s 12th sanctions package against Russia, which focused on addressing circumvention and strengthening implementation.

On 9 January 2024, Ireland joined an EU joint statement strongly condemning DPRK export and Russia’s procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine on December 30, 2023, and January 2, 2024.

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a number of sanctions Resolutions relating to DPRK, targeting its nuclear-related, other weapons of mass destruction-related, and ballistic missile-related programmes; most recently . In addition to applying UN sanctions, the EU has also put in place additional autonomous measures.

The current restrictive measures regime related to the DPRK includes a range of export and import restrictions including on arms and related materiel of all types; all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology, which could contribute to the DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic-missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programs; key components for the ballistic-missile sector; any other item that could contribute to the development of the operational capabilities of the DPRK's armed forces. Related financial assistance, technical training, advice, services, assistance or brokering services, or other intermediary services are also prohibited. Further details on the range of restrictions on DPRK established under current EU measures can be found here: www.sanctionsmap.eu/

Ireland supports the continued use of EU sanctions to maintain pressure on Russia and DPRK.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade given the European Court of Justice ruling in 2022 to bar public transparency on beneficial ownership and the international consortium of investigative journalists findings from their “Cyprus Confidential” investigations showing clear evidence of money laundering and EU sanction evasions by Russian oligarchs in Cyprus, the initiatives envisaged at a European Union-level to counteract this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1646/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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EU sanctions have a direct effect in all Member States of the EU, and are legally binding on all natural and legal persons. Ireland has strongly supported sanctions in response to Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, while also consistently emphasising the importance of effective implementation. Twelve packages of sanctions have been agreed by the EU to date. Recent measures have had a strong focus on combatting circumvention.

In response to the findings of the ‘Cyprus Confidential’ report, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus has launched a probe into the investigation’s findings, in addition to its on-going work to establish an independent body to investigate financial crimes and sanctions evasion.

Under the EU’s Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, EU Member States are required to create centralised registers of Beneficial Ownership information – that is, information on those who ultimately own or control corporate and other legal entities and trusts. This requirement has been met by the establishment of a number of registers in Ireland including:

• Register of Beneficial Ownership of Companies and Industrial and Provident Societies
• Central Register of Beneficial Ownership of Trusts, operated by Revenue
• Register of Beneficial Ownership of Certain Financial Vehicles, operated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Those subject to these filing obligations are also obliged to hold this beneficial ownership information locally and make it available to competent authorities and law enforcement agencies and to ‘designated persons’ when conducting customer due diligence.

In addition, the Ireland Safe Deposit Box, Bank and Payment Accounts Register (ISBAR), operated by the Central Bank of Ireland, commenced collection of information from credit institutions in 2023. This register holds information on the ownership of accounts identifiable by IBAN and on safe deposit boxes held by credit institution.

Access to this Register is limited to the following agencies from May 2023:

• The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of An Garda Síochána;
• Other officers of An Garda Síochána engaged in the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of a serious criminal offence or supporting a criminal investigation concerning a serious criminal offence;
• The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB); and
• The Revenue Commissioners, for the purposes of fulfilling their obligations on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation.