Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I am satisfied with the co-operation. While I was the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs from 1997 to 2002, I instigated multi-agency checkpoints, which were criticised by parts of the House. The checkpoints comprised gardaí, social welfare officers and officials from the Departments of Transport and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, customs and Revenue. Over the years, the checkpoints have gone somewhat into abeyance. Thanks to an initiative I took in more recent times in my current Ministry, the multi-agency checkpoints are up and running and meeting with significant success. This is in addition to the ongoing co-operation between the Departments. Moreover, as I noted in my previous response, social welfare officers are seconded to the CAB and there is close liaison between the CAB and the Department of Social and Family Affairs to ensure that those involved in criminal activity do not obtain social welfare payments. As the Deputy will note from the figures provided, significant savings have been made in that regard.

See this speech in context