Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2018
280. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress he and the motor insurance working group have made in the establishment of an anti-fraud unit within An Garda Síochána in order to reduce insurance fraud and uninsured driving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53349/18]
View answerThe Deputy is aware that the Cost of Insurance Working Group (CIWG) proposed exploring the possibility that a specific unit, funded by the insurance industry, be established within the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) to tackle insurance fraud.
The Deputy will also be aware that the GNECB has engaged with Insurance Ireland in relation to this matter and submitted a mechanism for establishing an insurance fraud unit to Insurance Ireland in the first half of 2017. Following receipt of the reply from Insurance Ireland in July 2018, I met with the GNECB and the Assistant Commissioner, Special Crime Operations, on 30 August 2018 to discuss this recommendation further.
More recently, my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Michael D'Arcy, T.D., met with the Garda Commissioner on 13 December to discuss matters relating to insurance fraud, including this recommendation, and the work of the CIWG. Following these discussions, I understand that the recommendation is receiving further consideration within An Garda Síochána.
My officials remain in close, ongoing contact with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Finance in relation to this matter. The CIWG will publish its fourth quarterly report for 2018 in the New Year.
