Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Chair and all members of the committee who have contributed to the debate today. I am glad to see that the committee continues to support the need to get this legislation enacted so that the new Corporate Enforcement Authority can be established.

As I said on the floor of the Dáil last month, the delivery of this new authority is a key priority for me. I strongly believe in this project and want to get the necessary legislative underpinning in place to allow for the necessary transformation. As well as the legislation, I have been very clear that I see resources as key. This includes relevant experts and gardaí. Since coming to office I am pleased that the Department has sanctioned the necessary Civil Service posts and that the recruitment process is under way. Separately, I am pleased that the Garda Commissioner has agreed to a significant increase in Garda resources for the new authority. This will support the delivery of the Government’s vision for the new authority. I will continue to prioritise this work and plan to see the new agency established. With the help of Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas, I hope to have the necessary legislation in place over the coming weeks. This will allow for the establishment of the authority in January 2022. I give an undertaking that I will come back to Deputies O'Reilly and Bruton on the issues they raised.

As I have already said, this is a landmark step to strengthen and transform the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement into a statutory and independent Corporate Enforcement Agency. I will ensure that it is equipped not just to hit the ground running, but to continue to deliver on its important objective in the enforcement of, and compliance with, the Companies Act 2014. I thank the Chair for facilitating the debate today.