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Legislative Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005

Tuesday, 21 June 2005

Ceisteanna (488)

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

509 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his proposals to strengthen the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau. [21310/05]

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Freagraí scríofa

The powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau were strengthened by the enactment in March of this year of the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005. The Act makes further provision in respect of the recovery and disposal of the proceeds of crime. It amends the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996, the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, the Criminal Justice Act 1994 and the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2001. It substantially bolsters the powers of bureau in the continuing battle to target the proceeds of all types of crime and extends those powers to the proceeds of white-collar crime and corruption. The Act's substantial provisions extend the proceeds of crime legislation to cover foreign criminality and corrupt enrichment. It also includes a number of technical provisions relating to court procedures, search powers and evidence. It extends the powers of the bureau to deal with foreign civil forfeiture recovery agencies such as the Assets Recovery Agency in the UK. The Act gives additional powers to the Garda and the Revenue Commissioners to seize cash suspected to represent, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of any criminal conduct — not just drug trafficking as previously — and to seize such cash anywhere in the State and not just in cases where it is being imported into or exported from the State.

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