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

Regarding the Deputy's point on the need for greater accountancy skills in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, such skills are fundamental to the office's ability to deal with the more complex issues and investigations it has been facing since the economic downturn. My colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, has been addressing this issue and working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure that the posts are filled. This is critical.

The Acting Garda Commissioner has told me that the main challenge the Garda is facing is the rapidly changing environment in which fraudsters and white collar criminals operate. This owes to changing technology, criminality and questionable business practices. As the Deputy knows, the Garda is working on a range of cases. I will keep the question of resources under review with the Acting Garda Commissioner.

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