Ms Derville Rowland:

Yes, there have been. We supported the Garda earlier this year in an action. The Garda led out at national level. It is the right agency to lead on fraud. We have worked with, and supported, the Garda in that regard. It has been talking about this area. Members will have seen the Garda do a Black Friday scam-smart promotion to warn consumers about being scammed on the Internet. We have done significant work with the Garda on the matters that fall within its remit and jurisdiction.

When we find that people are abusing the regulatory perimeter, we have the power to go to court in Ireland for an enforcement order if they do not obey our direction to cease and desist from what they are doing. We have had cause to do that in the past. There is a variety of big sticks. The serious issue of pure fraud is a matter for An Garda Síochána. We work very effectively with it to support it in its work.