Robert Dowds
Ceist:45. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the funding available to An Garda Síochána for white collar crime in view of (details supplied). [28221/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 13 June 2013
Ceisteanna (45)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, all members of An Garda Síochána may be tasked with investigating crime, including fraud-related incidents. In that context no specific Garda budget has been allocated to combating white collar crime.
Where required, specialist assistance is provided by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) and the Garda authorities have indicated that sufficient resources are being made available to the Bureau. In that regard I can inform the Deputy that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has recently approved the recruitment of two additional forensic accountants for the GBFI.
In addition, the Criminal Assets Bureau has been active in targeting the proceeds of deception, fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption and other types of criminal activity commonly referred to as "white collar crime". Moreover, the primary investigative agency for offences under the Companies Acts is the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.
I am, of course, concerned to ensure that the investigation and detection of fraud and white collar offences is as effective as it can be and that An Garda Síochána has available to it the necessary legislative and other supports to this end. I continue to attach the highest priority to the full investigation of these offences and bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. Shortly after taking up office, I moved urgently to introduce additional legislation in this area which was enacted as the Criminal Justice Act 2011, and provides vital assistance to An Garda Síochána in the completion of current white collar crime investigations, as well as providing assistance to them in future investigations. The Garda Commissioner is aware that any further legislative proposals he might have which would assist in the investigation and detection of white collar crime, or of fraud offences generally, will be positively considered by me.