Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There was a welcome auction on Friday and on Monday of about €500,000 worth of goods that have been seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB. Rolex watches, Louis Vuitton bags and other assets were seized from some of the highest criminals in the country. CAB is an organisation set up by Fine Gael to attack criminal organisations and such people as the former Sinn Féin councillor, Jonathan Dowdall. When we talk about Fine Gael supporting stronger, safer communities, this is exactly what we mean. We are going right into the heart of criminal organisations and hitting them where it hurts. The really important thing about that online sale on Friday and Monday is the €500,000 that has been raised, funding which goes back into the Exchequer.That funding will be put back into communities that have been affected heavily by organised crime. That €0.5 million comes on the back of €3 million that has already been put into 30 communities around the country to support and help them because they have been impacted negatively by some of the worst criminals we have in this country. I welcome and support that.

A number of people have spoken about the announcement of funding for sports clubs today. Tipperary got an extra €200,000 for the sports campus in Thurles, which means that around €750,000 will be put into the design project, which is very important and must be welcomed.