Section 2 deals with accountants and solicitors. I listened carefully to the Minister of State's reply on Second Stage and I fully endorse her efforts in relation to the Bill. I supported many measures regarding the right to silence and changes to the bail laws when it was not popular to do so. With the greatest respect, I have reservations about section 2. I appreciate the serious challenges faced by the Government, the Garda Síochána and other State agencies involved in tackling crime and I completely oppose the hype and high profile given by the media to many criminals in the past.
Much of what we are attempting to do is important and there has not been any knee jerk reaction. The Government has been very careful and prudent in its actions. However, this area of the legislation should be examined carefully. I read the Minister for Finance's Second Stage speech on this issue. I accept that he is an accountant and has much interest in this matter — the Minister of State also has a professional interest in it. In the past, I have had cases of murder, rape, armed robbery, etc. Under our system of justice, and even under the British system at its worst, confidentiality is maintained between solicitor and client at all times. We should not allow drug barons and other criminals to push us into changing the privilege that has existed between solicitors, accountants and auctioneers and their clients.
As a person who has been involved in the area of law, I have great reservations about this issue and I hope the Minister of State will examine it carefully. I accept the right of a journalist to have privilege regarding information they receive and also their right not to disclose their sources. The Minister of State will be aware of a recent European Court decision regarding the media's right to privilege. A situation will develop where solicitors representing someone charged with a serious offence will be obliged to walk a narrow line if they have to disclose information relating to money laundering or proceeds that are lodged with them. It is a difficult and dangerous area.
I ask the Minister of State to be prudent and careful in this area of the legislation. I do not say that as a shrinking violet because I have made unpopular statements on the effort that is required to tackle organised crime. The Revenue Commissioners have extensive powers under legislation introduced by Deputy Bertie Ahern when he was Minister for Finance, to enter properties, seize books and retain them indefinitely. When a person purchases a property, the solicitor acting on his or her behalf must submit their details and information on the vendor must also be submitted. A vast amount of information is required, including PRSI numbers, names and addresses, where people reside and even their relationships and families. We are entering into something which will cause problems in the long term.
We have one of the finest Attorneys General and I pay a warm tribute to him and the Government for their work on this, but we must be prudent and cautious. Everything needs change and that is good. However, there are some areas where change may not be advisable and this is one of those instances. I accept that the Revenue Commissioners have experienced intense intimidation and threats and many brave people working there fulfilled their duties in spite of that. There are sufficient powers without entering into an area where, as the Minister said, there is privilege in regard to legal advice. When you start dividing and separating it, you enter uncharted areas. If someone who is charged with some serious offence or is about to be arrested comes to me, I will feel hamstrung in advising them.
I am delighted that, under a later section, the Revenue Commissioners are granted privileges. They need them because, in the past, Revenue Commissioners and social welfare officers had to give their names and addresses and some were subjected to horrendous abuse and intimidation. I am glad that gardaí will now accompany and protect them. In this instance, however, if a solicitor has already been in consultation with a client and the information is suddenly disclosed, the solicitor has no such anonymity to hide behind.
I have never disowned anything I ever did or said and do not intend to do so in the future. However, we are entering uncharted waters and I ask the Government not to go a step too far. We in this House and those in State agencies cannot allow these people to push us a step too far because they in their own way are attempting to break the system. We must ensure the system we have is carefully preserved because it has stood the test of time under different administrations here. It is the one used in Britain and across Europe. We must be careful and prudent.