Richard Curran: Government's new register of business owners won't unearth any big secrets

Business people with something to hide will use offshore corporate entities to continue to mask their interests. Photo: Stock image

Richard Curran

The government is finalising its plans to set up a Register of Beneficial Ownership in the coming weeks. The register will be established following a Statutory Instrument from the Department of Finance and it will be in line with the measures of the EU's fourth anti-money laundering directive.

The basic idea is quite simple. But don't expect it to strike a major blow for corporate transparency, accountability and in combating crime.