Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
458. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1039 of 18 April 2023, if he has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this question answered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21702/23]
View answerI understand that Parliamentary Question No. 1039 of 18 April 2023 refers to the number of full-time forensic accountants working in the Criminal Assets Bureau and Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau in the years of 2022 and to-date in 2023.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
Under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible for the management and control of the administration and business of the Criminal Assets Bureau, including the staffing of the Bureau. Under the Act, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for these functions. As Minister for Justice I have no direct role in these functions.
I am advised by the Bureau that there are currently three full-time Forensic Accountants employed in the Bureau and there is an additional vacancy that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) intend to advertise in the near future. There is also one Financial Crime Analyst working in the Criminal Assets Bureau and I understand that there is a vacancy for one Digital Specialist and that the PAS are also managing the recruitment process for filling this position.
Similarly, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that no full-time forensic accountants worked in Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Unit in 2022 or to date in 2023.
