Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

We will be seeking such a common position, although Switzerland does not maintain an institutionalised political dialogue with the EU due to its traditional policy of neutrality. Having said that, there should be a common response from the EU on this issue and we will be raising it at the next available opportunity.

Switzerland is a traditional location for the transfer of such funds, due to banking secrecy rules and so on. There have been reforms in recent decades that have made it harder to hide money in Switzerland. There have been examples in Nigeria and the Philippines, where substantial sums of ill gotten gains by dictators were returned. I do not disagree with what the Deputy has said and I will be raising the issue at EU level.

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