Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While the deployment of resources within An Garda Síochána is a matter for the acting Garda Commissioner, I have received a detailed report from her on the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and its functions. As the Deputy will be aware, the acting Commissioner has initiated an immediate comprehensive review and strategic realignment of An Garda Síochána's capacity to deal with emerging and complex crime and this will have an important bearing on how these functions are performed. As the Deputy has rightly noted, a major challenge facing the bureau is the rapidly changing environment in which white collar and other criminals operate, as well as the scale and complexity of some white collar crime investigations. As part of the review process An Garda Síochána is liaising with its international partners and national institutions to identify collaborative approaches. Clearly, international work and co-operation are singularly important in the investigation of these crimes. I am in ongoing contact with the Garda authorities in this regard.

The Government moved rapidly to provide new legislation with the Criminal Justice Act 2011 which served to help to speed up investigations into white collar crime. The acting Commissioner is aware that I will give careful consideration to additional proposals from the Garda authorities in this regard. Furthermore, while specialist and major investigations are a matter for the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, many types of white collar crime are investigated by local units within An Garda Síochána with support and advice from the bureau. In addition, the Criminal Assets Bureau has been active in targeting the proceeds of deception, fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption and other types of criminal activity commonly referred to as white collar crime.

In so far as the question referred to liaison with other enforcement bodies, I emphasise that the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation is working closely with other bodies that have enforcement functions, for example, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the Central Bank and the Competition Authority. GBFI staff are seconded to the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Competition Authority. There is considerable liaison between the various bodies with responsibilities in this area.

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