Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
431 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the operation of the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29168/04]
View answer432 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons being investigated by the Criminal Assets Bureau; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29169/04]
View answer433 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the names of the persons with whom the Criminal Assets Bureau has made financial or other settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29170/04]
View answer434 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons with whom the Criminal Assets Bureau has made financial or other settlements; the value of such settlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29171/04]
View answer435 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of property and money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29172/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 431 to 435, inclusive, together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the names of persons with whom the Criminal Assets Bureau has made financial or other settlements cannot be provided. The revenue bureau officers at the Criminal Assets Bureau are subject to strict rules of secrecy under the law attached to their work and that was only lifted by the Oireachtas under the Taxes Consolidation Act to allow the publication of specific types of tax settlements reached with the Revenue Commissioners. That statutory provision of disclosure does not apply to tax settlements entered into with the Criminal Assets Bureau as the law stands.
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that, for operational reasons, it is not considered appropriate for the Criminal Assets Bureau to disclose the information sought by the Deputy regarding the number of persons with whom the bureau has made financial settlements or the number of persons being investigated by the bureau.
The overall sum for tax collected by the bureau from 1996 to 31 October 2004 amounts to €69,262,409. It is not possible to be specific as to how much of that sum collected represents formal settlements as the variety of agreements reached to recover taxes will vary widely across the different types of cases with which the Criminal Assets Bureau deals.
In the period from its inception to 31 October 2003, the bureau has obtained interim and final restraint orders to the value of more than €51 million and €22 million, respectively. Further details of the activities of the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment in 1996 are contained in the annual reports of the bureau. Copies are available in the Oireachtas Library.
