Mary White (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We might consider the great work done by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

As this is not my area, I am not au fait with it, but from a distance I have admired the work of the CAB which appears to be the most professional investigation unit we have ever had in the State.

The region about which I am concerned is the Border area, as well as the issue of paramilitaries. I do not have any information, but is the paramilitary group not a small one that could be dealt with? I do not intend to be naive or simplistic, but we need to take control of what is happening in the North. The fear of God must be in people in the North following the murder of Mr. Black. Why can the paramilitary group not be dealt with, as those involved must be known? What should the Government do in this regard? As the committee will not resolve the issue, it will have to be done at political level by the Minister for Justice and Equality who is effective. What does Mr. Hickey think he should do? Fuel laundering and cigarette smuggling are the major issues. What is being done in the United States by the CIA and the FBI? Is it a resource issue? The chart provided by the Library and Research Service indicates that Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Greece, Poland and Hungary are the worst offenders in terms of the amount of GDP lost in the shadow economy. If Mr. Hickey was Minister for Justice and Equality, what would he do to tackle the issue? I know that he knows what he is talking about; that is clear from his record. However, the day is coming when it will be necessary to have experts and professionals as Ministers.