Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2020
157. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the report of the review group on anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16328/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, a review of Ireland’s anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures, chaired by the former DPP Mr James Hamilton, is currently examining the effectiveness of the State’s procedural, legislative and resourcing frameworks for the investigation, prosecution and prevention of fraud and corruption offences. I am advised that the Hamilton Review Group is currently finalising the draft report with a view to its publication in the coming weeks (Quarter 3 2020).
It is important to note that a significant number of bodies have key responsibilities to develop and implement anti-corruption policies, with the competence to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute corruption spread across An Garda Síochána and a number of other bodies with a mandate to tackle corruption.
These include, inter alia, the Central Bank of Ireland, the Standards in Public Office Commission, local authorities, the Ombudsman, Parliamentary Committees on Members' Interests, the Anti-Corruption Unit in the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee, other Oireachtas committees, regulators, Government Departments, the Director of Public Prosecutions and tribunals of enquiry and commissions of investigation.
In addition, Ireland has an extensive range of legislative provisions to prevent and combat corruption. These include the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, Freedom of Information Act 2014 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014.
In relation to recent legislative developments, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 was commenced in full on the 30 July 2018. The Act repealed and replaced the seven previous Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 2010. The Act is not merely a consolidation of the old provisions. It strengthens and clarifies the law in relation to corruption.
Ireland is also a party to a number of anti-corruption international instruments. These are the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO). As such, Ireland is subject to regular peer evaluations associated with the implementation of these international agreements with recommendations for improvement made following each review.
