Ireland updates asset-freeze rules for ISIL and Al-Qaida entities

The Minister for Finance has made new regulations updating the restrictive measures applied to persons and entities associated with the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida organisations, published in Iris Oifigiúil on 8 September 2026. The instrument, S.I. No. 458 of 2026, gives further effect to Council Regulation (EC) 881/2002 of 27 May 2002 and carries direct obligations for financial institutions and listed entities.

Legal basis and scope

The regulations were made under subsections (2) and (6) of section 42 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 (No. 2 of 2005), the statutory framework through which Ireland enforces EU asset-freezing measures against terrorist-linked persons and bodies. The full title is the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 (Section 42) (Restrictive Measures Concerning Certain Persons and Entities Associated with the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Organisations) (No. 6) Regulations 2026.

The instrument is the sixth in the series, indicating a rolling update of the EU list of designated persons and entities as it evolves.

What the measures require

The regulations give effect to the asset-freeze and restrictive measures set out in Council Regulation (EC) 881/2002, which applies to those designated as associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida. In practice, the obligations fall on:

• Financial institutions and credit institutions, which must freeze funds and economic resources of listed persons and entities;
• Listed entities and individuals, whose assets are subject to the freeze;
• Competent authorities, which oversee implementation and enforcement of the measures.

The regulations are available for purchase from Government Publications, Mountshannon Road, Kilmainham, Dublin, at a price of €6.50.

Publication details

The instrument appears in the Iris Oifigiúil of 8 September 2026 (Number 72), alongside other statutory instruments including the European Union (Restrictive Measures Concerning Iran) (UAV) (No. 5) Regulations 2026 and several court rules. The notice confirms the regulations were made by the Minister for Finance in exercise of the powers conferred by the 2005 Act.

Why it matters

For banks, credit unions and other financial service providers in Ireland, the update means the list of persons and entities subject to asset-freezing obligations has been brought into line with the latest EU designations under Regulation 881/2002. Failure to comply with the restrictive measures can expose institutions to penalties, so the publication of S.I. No. 458 of 2026 is a practical compliance trigger for the sector, as well as a reaffirmation of Ireland’s commitment to the EU’s counter-terrorism financing framework.

Source: Iris Oifigiúil, No. 72, 8 September 2026, Section I, p. (official reference: S.I. No. 458 of 2026).