Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Deputy has acknowledged that the development of multi-agency task forces has been key in detecting and deterring social welfare fraud but obviously it is used in a variety of other situations. For instance, people might be familiar with the fact that there is multi-agency co-operation in regard to taxi ranks to ensure that the people who are on taxi ranks are properly registered for the purposes of income tax, employment and PRSI. The multi-agency has been an important development in saving taxpayers in terms of fraud and detecting fraud. The gardaí will retain their warrant card and their authorisation.

In the case of the CAB there are specific powers under the CAB legislation and, as the Deputy is aware, social welfare officers work with and within the CAB and are seconded to it. In this particular case the gardaí are coming into the Department of Social Protection to beef up the capacity of the Department in investigations and detection. It will allow the members of the Garda Síochána to exercise the powers and duties of a social welfare inspector and it facilitates them being seconded to the Department to assist with and undertake fraud investigation work. The gardaí who are seconded will be provided with powers. This will enable them to work as and with inspectors from the Department's special investigation unit. They will perform relevant social welfare investigation functions but will remain gardaí as well. Officers will investigate, collate and assemble suitable evidence to enable a deciding or designated officer to review an entitlement to social welfare payments and in certain circumstances to use this in legal proceedings.

We are doing this to enhance the investigative functions of the Department for the purposes of the control of fraud in social welfare schemes. This sanction has been provided for these temporary assignments. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has approved the secondment of 20 Garda officers for assignment to the unit and people will know that the special investigations unit is headquartered in Carrick-on-Shannon and also operates in areas where there may be specific risks. During the period I have been Minister I have examined how we can support the people in the special investigations unit to ensure that with a spend of €20 billion we deter fraud, that if fraud occurs on a small-scale basis and where it is significant that we prosecute, and that we send out a message that the Department of Social Protection is not a soft touch in regard to fraud and abuse. I feel very strongly that not only do I have responsibility to people such as our retired people in regard to social welfare payments but that I have an enormous responsibility to taxpayers paying income tax and PRSI who want to see social welfare money directed particularly to the people who qualify and to those who need it.