Domestic

New PCF roles for safeguarding

On 10 February 2026, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) introduced two new Head of Safeguarding roles to the PCF list:

• PCF-56 (Head of Safeguarding for Payment Institutions, Electronic Money Institutions and Small Electronic Money Institutions)
• PCF-57 (Head of Safeguarding for Crypto Asset Service Providers)

CBI Regulatory and Supervisory Outlook 2026

On 26 February 2026, the CBI published its annual regulatory and supervisory outlook report (the Outlook Report). The CBI’s supervisory priorities for all regulated firms include:

• Maintaining and building resilience to geopolitical risks and macro-financial uncertainties
• Securing consumer and investor interests in a rapidly changing world
• Responding to technology-driven transformations
• Addressing environmental and societal transitions
• Enhancing regulatory and supervisory practices

The Outlook Report provides sector-specific supervisory priorities for credit institutions, payments and e-money institutions, MiFID investment firms, the securities market (including crypto asset service providers (CASPs)), (re)insurance undertakings and the retail credit sector.

The CBI also provided information on the following areas of spotlight on a cross-sectoral basis:

• Spotlight 1: Approaching AI from a supervisory perspective
• Spotlight 2: Supporting resilient service provision
• Spotlight 3: Supporting better outcomes for consumers and investors.

European

AMLA publishes strategic priorities with 2026-2028 Singe Programming Document

On 4 February 2026, Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) published a single programming document (SPD) for 2026-2028, its first multi-year plan which sets out priorities and timelines.

The SPD provides an overview of scheduled mandates for 2026 as well as AMLA’s strategic objectives across three core deliverables:

• Completing the Single Rulebook
• Advancing supervisory convergence
• Strengthening cooperation among Financial Intelligence Units

These three core deliverables are translated into action through five interlinked activities that will shape AMLA’s work in 2026 with an impact across the three years:

• Delivering on core regulatory mandates
• Advancing direct supervision
• Operationalising the GIU framework
• Laying the foundations for indirect supervision and oversight
• Building AMLA’s risk frameworks

It also provides a roadmap for the market providing guidance for preparation and information on upcoming mandates, offering the opportunity for input by way of public consultations.

AMLA published consultation on the draft RTS on customer due diligence

On 9 February 2026, the AMLA launched its public consultation on the draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) for customer due diligence (CDD). Mandated by Article 28(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR), these standards aim to harmonise how ‘obliged entities’, ranging from traditional banks and crypto-asset service providers to non-financial actors like real estate agents and professional football clubs, can identify and verify their customers.

The consultation seeks to eliminate regulatory arbitrage and conflicting national interpretations in the area. The draft RTS provide exhaustive details on the documentation required for standard, simplified and enhanced due diligence, with a particular focus on beneficial ownership and verification measures on a non-face-to-face basis.

The consultation paper states that the draft CDD measures are proportionate and risk-based, and flexible enough to ensure applicability across the range of products and services offered by obliged entities in both the financial and non-financial sectors.

This consultation remains open for public feedback until 8 May 2026, with the final rules set to become legally binding in July 2027.

AMLA publishes consultation on the draft RTS on criteria for identifying business relationships, occasional and linked transactions and lower thresholds

On 9 February 2026, AMLA published a consultation on the draft criteria for identifying business relationships, occasional and linked transactions and lower thresholds. Article 19(9) of the AMLR requires AMLA to develop RTS that specify:

• The criteria for identifying business relationships and occasional transactions
• The criteria for identifying linked transactions
• Lower occasional transaction threshold values and the obliged entities, sectors or transactions that are associated with higher money laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF) risk and to which such lower occasional transaction threshold values than the value set out in Article 19(1)(b) applies (i.e. thresholds lower than €10,000).

AMLA has not exercised the option to set additional lower CDD thresholds for occasional transactions.

The criteria in the draft RTS apply to all obliged entities across both the financial and non-financial sectors. Some criteria are universal, however others are tailored to specific categories of obliged entities.

This consultation remains open for public feedback until 8 May 2026, with the final rules set to become legally binding in July 2027.

AMLA publishes consultation on the draft RTS on pecuniary sanctions, administrative measures and periodic penalty payments

On 9 February 2026, AMLA launched a public consultation on the draft RTS for pecuniary sanctions, administrative measures and periodic penalty payments. AMLD 6 contains provisions on pecuniary sanctions, administrative measures and periodic penalty payments that may be imposed by supervisors.

In accordance with Article 53(10) of AMLD 6, the draft RTS specifies:

• The indicators supervisors must use to classify the level of gravity of breaches
• Criteria to be considered when setting the level of pecuniary sanctions or applying administrative measures
• The methodology for calculating the amount and frequency of periodic penalty payments including their frequency

This consultation closed on 9 March 2026.

Date published: 30 March 2026

This publication provides an overview of certain legal and regulatory developments that may be of interest to certain entities. It does not purport to provide analysis of law or legal advice and is strictly for information purposes only.