Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
870. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has considered establishing a dedicated organisation to tackle white collar crime; and if so, the estimated cost of same. [33743/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has made clear its commitment to tackling white collar crime. In November of last year, the Government published a suite of measures aimed at enhancing corporate governance, increasing transparency and strengthening Ireland’s response to White Collar Crime. The implementation of these measures is progressing across three Departments; Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Justice & Equality.
One of the recommendations proposed changes to the structure of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, which my colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation is taking forward.
In addition to that, my Department has been tasked with reviewing the structures in place to prevent fraud and corruption, and a working group to bring this recommendation forward will be set up in September. The fight against corruption will be greatly assisted by the recently enacted Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB, formerly the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation) was established on 1 September 2016. The Bureau has dedicated expert staff, including professional forensic accountants, to address fraud, white collar crime, and other and economic crimes. I am further informed by the Commissioner that as of 31 May 2018, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 68 Garda and 17 Garda civilian staff assigned to the GNECB. Garda management continue to review the needs of the Bureau to enable it to fully realise the aims of the Modernisation and Renewal Programme, and to ensure that An Garda Síochána maximises its capability to investigate current and emerging forms of economic crime.
A steering group, involving my Department, the GNECB and various other Departments and agencies, has been established to tackle a particular area of economic crime, known as 'invoice redirection fraud', which involves companies being targeted by criminals posing as trusted suppliers claiming to have changed their bank account details. The steering group is setting up a task force to tackle this issue and work is at an advanced stage. The work of the task force will help to inform the wider review of anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures.
An Garda Síochána has already had a number of significant successes in combating this crime. It is important for businesses to ensure that they verify any claimed change of bank account details from a supplier with some they know in that company. If they fail to do so and fall victim to this crime, they should contact An Garda Síochána immediately, as this will greatly assist the Gardaí in recovering the money before it is transferred out of the jurisdiction.
These are not crimes that are taken lightly by this Government, or by Gardaí, and I reiterate our commitment to tackling this particular form of crime.
