Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 June 2006
199 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that the Criminal Assets Bureau has available to it the sufficient resources, facilities and technology to ensure its ability to deal with crime levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22242/06]
View answerThe Garda authorities inform me they are satisfied that sufficient resources are available to the Criminal Assets Bureau to enable it operate effectively.
The Criminal Assets Bureau has been at the forefront of the fight against organised crime in this jurisdiction since its inception in 1996. The manner in which the Bureau operates has, in that 10 year period, come to be viewed, both domestically and internationally, as a very successful model for targeting persons seeking to derive profits from criminal activities. The assignment of staff to the Bureau from An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social and Family Affairs ensures a multi-disciplinary, co-ordinated and integrated approach to the identification, freezing and seizure of criminal proceeds, the assessment and collection of unpaid taxes, and the recovery of social welfare overpayments.
The resources available to the Bureau, including manpower, facilities and technology, are kept under continuous review to ensure that it is fully able to fulfil its statutory remit. In this context, in late 2005 following consultation with the Garda Commissioner my Department secured Department of Finance sanction for two additional specialist staff for the CAB. These staff — a Financial Crime Analyst and a Forensic Accountant — have recently been recruited. I can assure the Deputy that the resources available to the Criminal Assets Bureau will continue to be kept under constant review to ensure it remains fully effective in confiscating the ill-gotten gains of criminals and their associates.
