Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
886. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost of a Garda insurance fraud unit in circumstances in which the cost of this would be borne by the State. [33760/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Recommendation 26 of the ‘Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance’, published in January 2017, relates to exploring the potential for further cooperation between the insurance sector and An Garda Síochána in relation to insurance fraud investigation. Specifically, this involves considering the feasibility of establishing a specialised and dedicated insurance fraud unit within An Garda Síochána, funded by industry.
The Garda Commissioner authorised the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) to engage with Insurance Ireland in exploratory talks about this recommendation, resulting in the GNECB submitting a mechanism for further cooperation and a costed proposal to Insurance Ireland in the latter half of 2017. Insurance Ireland agreed to explore the proposal further, subject to a full cost benefit analysis, which was carried out by Insurance Ireland’s Chief Financial Officers Working Group.
Insurance Ireland informed the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Michael D’Arcy, T.D., of the outcome of its analysis on 2 July 2018, recommending industry funding of a Garda insurance fraud unit. This outcome has been communicated to An Garda Síochána.
Officials in my Department are currently engaging with the GNECB in relation to this recommendation. The intention is that such a dedicated Garda unit will be funded by Insurance Ireland members and non-members alike, i.e. all entities writing non-life insurance business in Ireland.
I am advised that activity to date in relation to this recommendation consists of scoping out the possible cost and feasibility of setting up such a unit. I understand that, at this stage, the Garda Commissioner has yet to form a view on the proposal, and a proposal or recommendation has not been submitted to me as Minister. As such, I am not currently in a position to provide the Deputy with an estimate as to the full-year cost of a Garda insurance fraud unit.
There are a number of serious issues which will require further consideration before any decision whether or not to proceed in this manner is taken and discussions will remain ongoing between relevant officials in my Department and An Garda Síochána in this regard.
It will be a matter for me, as Minister for Justice and Equality, on foot of a recommendation from the Garda Commissioner, to decide whether the establishment of the proposed unit is something which should be pursued.
I have requested An Garda Síochána to provide me with an estimate as to the full-year cost of a Garda insurance fraud unit and will contact the Deputy directly on receipt of this information.
