Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Ó Snodaigh's amendment seeks to give the court power to order the payment of compensation to the victims of trafficking, but such a general power already exists. Section 6 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 deals with the power of the court to order the offender to pay compensation to an injured party. Under section 6, on conviction of a person for an offence, the court may make a compensation order requiring that person to pay compensation in respect of any personal injury or loss resulting from the offence "(or any other offence taken into consideration by the court in determining sentence) to any person" who has suffered such injury or loss. This can be in addition to the court dealing with the offender in any other way. The general power exists in the courts in the case of any offence, including the offences created by this legislation, to deal with an offender in the way the Deputy has advocated. I am satisfied the existing law addresses that issue and that there is no need for these amendments.

On the wider issue raised by Deputy Naughten, his question about the application of funds seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

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