Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
935. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the moneys that are seized through the proceeds of crime can be ring-fenced and distributed to regions for dispersal to front-line community services that deal directly with the impacts of crimes; her plans on the matter; her views on such proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15341/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a matter of great importance that the proceeds of the crime are recovered and reinvested back into keeping communities safe. Ireland has a robust legislative framework in place allowing for the freezing, seizure and confiscation of assets that are derived from criminal conduct.
As the Deputy may be aware, responsibility for the identification, tracing, freezing, and ultimate confiscation of criminal assets does not rest with a single body in Ireland and is spread across a number of different agencies and statutory bodies, not all of which are the responsibility of the Department of Justice and Equality. These include An Garda Síochána, the Criminal Assets Bureau, Revenue, the Chief State Solicitors Office, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts. It should be noted that in some cases, funds seized represent overdue/unpaid personal taxation.
I understand that, in accordance with the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996-2016, the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended, and related statutes, all confiscations relating to the proceeds of crime are transferred to the Minister for Finance to be paid into, or disposed of, for the benefit of the Exchequer. It is from this central fund which the Government draws for expenditure on all necessary public services and investment including for communities affected by crime. Any change to that process would be a matter for the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure.
