Paul Bradford
Ceist:13 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the legislative proposals for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proceeds of Crime Confiscation.
Monica Barnes
Ceist:16 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the legislative proposals for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Michael Joe Cosgrave
Ceist:67 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the legislation proposals for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:76 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice the current status of the legislation proposals for the confiscation of the proceeds of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 16, 67 and 76 together.
The Bill to provide for the seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of serious crime is in the course of being drafted as a matter of priority and will be introduced by me in the near future.
Would the Minister agree, in the light of the reality of about £40 million worth of property being stolen last year, that this is an urgent matter? When will the Bill be published? Will it be published before the end of this session?
I cannot remember mentioning the figure of £40 million. I think I mentioned £36 million in 1990 and an increase in 1991. The drafting of the Bill is nearing completion and it has top priority. It is my firm intention to have it on the Statute Book before the end of the year.
I ask the Minister to have the Bill published and Second Stage ordered before the House goes into recess. If the Minister would agree to the completion of Second Stage before the end of this session, the Fine Gael Party would co-operate in the establishment of a special committee to start taking Committee Stage in September, so that we could respond urgently to the ongoing increase in crime. There is a crisis in this area and we must bring the figures down and ensure that robberies and burglaries do not continue to increase. I ask the Minister to attach some urgency to this. He will have the co-operation of this side of the House if he does so.
The offer of co-operation in this regard is appreciated. The Deputy is "on".