Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Would anybody else like to contribute? Nobody else seems to have indicated.

On the comments Mr. Drennan made on the question from Deputy O'Reilly on a previous case that collapsed, I would be interested to tease those out with him at another time. I will not do so at this committee but I refer to Mr. Drennan's response to her.

On the Bill we are talking about now, I reiterate how important I believe it is to establish a corporate enforcement authority that will be separate from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is an issue I raised in the last Dáil numerous times and I am pleased we are beginning to make progress on creating this new and important entity. There is a perception that many crimes are not crimes if one wears a suit and that often white-collar crime is never investigated properly or on the scale required. I hope the work of the corporate enforcement agency will show the people that we, as a State, will prosecute crime no matter what resources are at the disposal of the suspected offender.

I have three short questions. My first question is as follows. In the last Dáil I spoke on the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, numerous times. One of the big concerns I raised was on staff numbers at the ODCE. In terms of funding, is Mr. Drennan confident that he will have sufficient resources to hire the necessary specialist staff required to maximise the effectiveness of the corporate enforcement agency? My second question is as follows. In a submission, there is reference to existing barriers to maximising the effectiveness of the corporate enforcement agency. Could Mr. Drennan provide some detail as to what those existing barriers to maximising the effectiveness are?

My third question is on whether Mr. Drennan will agree with Professor Ahern's submission that in the proposed membership structure of the corporate enforcement agency, one to three members is too small. It strikes me as being too small. Mr. Drennan might comment on that.