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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Criminal Assets Bureau.

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

612 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will amend the existing legislation which prevents CAB money being distributed to community and voluntary groups. [19878/02]

I acknowledged in response to a similar parliamentary question by the Deputy on 9 October last that there may be some symbolic value in the idea that assets which are determined by law to be the proceeds of crime be committed towards anti-drugs and related programmes. However, I emphasised too that the proposal is not without significant difficulties.

These include the fact that, for example, it would involve a significant departure from Government accounting principles which provide that it is a matter for the Government, with the approval of the Oireachtas, to determine the optimum allocation of Exchequer receipts in accordance with agreed priorities. Any departure from such principles could set a precedent which would be difficult to resist in those circumstances and which, no doubt, would reactivate long standing demands for ringfencing receipts in other sectoral areas. It is true also that Government support, particularly in communities hardest hit by drugs, has been significant in recent years for drug related initiatives, mostly relating to recreation and local development. The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 builds on this experience and sets out a series of specific objectives and actions to address gaps identified in the strategy consultation process. There are legal difficulties too and my Department is continuing to examine all of these issues in consultation with other concerned Departments, including the Department of Finance.

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