Written Answers. - White Collar Crime.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:
118
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
his response to the recent report, Crime Control in Ireland: The Politics of Intolerance, which found that while current policies had led to a significant increase in the number of people charged with such offences as begging, prostitution and public order offences, there was no evidence of any serious pursuit of white collar crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[14999/01]
I am aware of the report in question, Crime Control in Ireland: The Politics of Intolerance.
Begging and prostitution together constituted only approximately 0.2% of total non-indictable offences recorded in 1999 and any suggestion that it is policy to concentrate on pursuing these offences to the detriment of pursuing more serious offences is neither borne out by the statistics themselves nor has any basis in reality.
With regard to white collar crime, there are already wide ranging powers under common and statute law to obtain search warrants; enter and extensively search business premises; and arrest, detain and interrogate suspected persons. Moreover, the Deputy will be aware of my Criminal Justice (Fraud Offences) Bill, 2000, which is currently awaiting Committee Stage. The Bill, which takes into account the report of the Law Reform Commission on offences of dishonesty and the report of the advisory committee on fraud, sets out to comprehensively and radically reform the law on white collar crime, fraud and offences of dishonesty in general. The Bill is a clear example of my determination to pursue all forms of crime.
With regard to the Garda response to this matter, the Garda bureau of fraud investigation has national responsibility for the investigation of serious and complex fraud-related crime, including cases of commercial fraud, cheque and credit card fraud, computer fraud, money laundering offences and counterfeit currency. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the bureau commences investigations when they become aware that a breach of the criminal law has occurred, by reaction to complaints received and by initiating investigations aimed at targeting particular groups, practices or areas.
I am further informed that the Garda Síochána has agreed to the secondment of members to both the new office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Competition Authority. These bodies have responsibility for the enforcement of the Company Law Acts and the investigation of criminal cartels, respectively.
Question No. 119 answered with Question No. 58.
