Helen Keogh
Question:51 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Justice if she will make additional resources available to the Garda fraud squad; and if, in particular, she will ensure that both financial and legal expertise is put at their disposal.
Written Answers. - Garda Fraud Squad.
Even before the Government Advisory Committee on Fraud had reported the strength of the Garda Fraud Squad was boosted by eight members between the ranks of Sergeant and Superintendent to bring it to its present level of 44 members.
The advisory committee's report was published last Thursday, a copy of which is available in the Dáil Library. This report recommends that the Garda Fraud Squad be restructured into a National Bureau under the leadership of a chief superintendent. The report also recommends that additional legal experts be assigned to the Director of Public Prosecution's office to handle the legal aspects of major fraud investigations/ prosecutions. These lawyers would be on call to the Fraud Bureau at all stages in their investigations of serious fraud. Additionally, Garda investigators would be supported by specialist accountants directly recruited to the Fraud Bureau on a contract basis. It is my intention to give urgent consideration to the committee's recommendations in so far as my Department is concerned.
I also intend, as recommended in the report, to bring forward as soon as possible legislation to provide the gardaí with the necessary legal powers in regard to the investigation of serious fraud and the arrest and detention of persons suspected of such offences. In this regard I am having the advisory committee's report and the recently published report by the Law Reform Commission on the law relating to dishonesty studied as a priority in my Department.
Pat Rabbitte
Question:52 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice when it is intended to introduce legislation to comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Norris case; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Legislation in response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the Norris case will be introduced this year in line with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government.