Dark money is a threat to national security that Ireland can no longer afford to ignore

Ireland may features among those countries perceived to be least affected by political corruption, but our company formation regime and light-touch regulation of corporate vehicles present opportunities for hostile state actors and organised crime, writes John Devitt.

A rescuer evacuates a cat after a Russian drone hit an apartment house in Kharkiv, Ukraine, earlier this month. Billions of euro have been raised through Dublin’s bond markets for Russian suppliers of commodities required for Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. Picture: Andrii Marienko/AP

It’s almost 15 years since the Mahon and Moriarty tribunals made damning findings of political corruption in Ireland. 

It’s more than a decade since Maurice McCabe’s revelations exposed systemic maladministration of the penalty points system.