Fergus O'Dowd
Question:343. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice the steps she plans to take to tackle white collar crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41486/20]
View answerThursday, 10 December 2020
Questions (343)
Written answers
I am strongly committed to tackling all forms of corruption and white-collar crime and the Deputy will be aware that I last week announced my intention to lead a new cross-government plan to tackle these issues, following the publication of the Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption. I intend to publish and start to implement an Action Plan to tackle economic crime and corruption early in the New Year, which I have secured Government approval to do.
I would like to thank the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr James Hamilton, and the members of his Review Group for their meticulous work in preparing their detailed report, which I am determined to act on.
Corruption and ‘white-collar crime’ damages our economy, breeds cynicism in our society and is a threat to our international reputation. As noted in the detailed report recently published, Ireland is a relatively small country with a population approaching 5 million. However, Ireland is listed as the fifth largest provider of wholesale financial services in the EU with more than 400 international financial institutions located here. The State and its agencies must have all the powers available to clamp down and prevent this type of crime.
Ireland has a hard won reputation as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment and as an international business hub and stepping up our efforts to tackle white collar crime shows we’re serious about maintaining and building that reputation.
Businesses large and small must be confident they can operate safely and securely, particularly as more economic activity goes online, a trend we have seen accelerate with COVID-19. But it is not just about businesses, consumers too should know they can safely pay their bills and shop online.
The recommendations in the Hamilton Review focus primarily on legislative, structural and resourcing measures to enhance agency and multi-agency enforcement as well as increasing capacity across the criminal justice system to prevent this crime. Examples of the recommendations include: greater powers for investigating agencies to tackle economic crime and corruption; the establishment of an Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption; reform of the Ethics Acts; and additional resourcing for SIPO, DPP, Garda National and Economic Crime Bureau.
The Programme for Government recognises the reputational and economic damage that corruption and white collar crime can cause to the State and commits the Government to introduce and implement new anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures.
The development of our new plan to tackle economic crime and corruption will be informed by the recommendations of the Hamilton review. Work has already begun across Government to develop this action plan, which will set clear timelines for the introduction of a series of reforms to strengthen the State’s capacity to prevent and prosecute white-collar crime.
I am committed to ensuring that Gardaí have the resources, both in terms of people and technology, to combat all forms of crime. An Garda Síochána have been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff as well as driving significant developments in ICT.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) is the main Bureau of An Garda Síochána tasked with tackling economic crime. The Bureau operates on a national basis and provides specialist support and guidance to regional investigators.
I understand that there are currently competitions underway to strengthen the staffing levels in the GNECB’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the GNECB itself as well as the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. This includes 11 new permanent Detective Sergeants who are due to be allocated to the GNECB this month, with additional resources expected in 2021.
I can also advise the Deputy that there have been a number of significant steps taken in recent years to strengthen the State’s ability to tackle corruption and related activities. In particular, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 is a very important piece of legislation in the fight against corruption, both in Ireland and abroad. Further information relating to the Act and the Government’s cross-Departmental approach to tackling corruption and bribery can be found on www.anticorruption.ie.