David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his appointment. I did not have an opportunity to say that earlier. On behalf of the Minister, I would like to thank all Deputies who contributed to this debate and welcome the support expressed for this Bill.

Crime, in particular organised crime, is a cause of deep concern to all of us and to people across the country. All Members of the House can look to our work here today and say we are doing our part as legislators. We are providing the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, with the legislative powers it needs to tackle organised criminals.

For its part, the Government is committed to providing the resources to tackle crime wherever and however it occurs. We are investing in vehicles, technology and new legislation but, most importantly, in people. In addition to the €5 million previously announced in February, a further €50 million is to be provided in 2016, €15 million of which is to come from projected savings in the justice and equality sector, with the balance coming from the Exchequer. This funding is being made available to maintain the necessary policing response to the current situation on an ongoing basis. This will allow for concentrated policing targeting of gang-related crime, in particular; continued targeting of burglaries and related crime via Operation Thor; and continued support for measures against terrorism.

A new Garda special crime task force is being established under the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. It will augment the response to organised crime at a local level through concentrated policing and through a multi-agency approach to targeting the proceeds of crime. The Garda Commissioner will have oversight of the task force and its operations. The task force will be sustained for as long as is necessary and it will adapt to the prevailing organised crime situation at local level. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year, with approximately 50 people contributing to its work. There will be a core of dedicated officers working under the auspices of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau as well as staff from the Criminal Assets Bureau and divisional asset profilers.

I can assure the House that the Minister is committed to making sure the necessary resources are made available to the Criminal Assets Bureau from within the available public finances. Budget levels for the bureau have been maintained over recent years. The resources made available to the bureau are kept under ongoing review by both the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Department of Justice and Equality.

Arising from the establishment of the special crime task force, some additional resource requirements have been identified by the bureau and progress is being made in addressing this. As I said, the matter will be kept under review by both the bureau and the Department.

A dedicated armed support unit, ASU, for the Dublin area is in the process of being set up and trained. Pending full establishment of the new unit, arrangements have been put in place so that armed support is being provided on an overtime basis.

Underpinning all of these measures is the Government’s intention to increase Garda numbers to 15,000. While in the short term substantial funds are being made available for overtime, measures are being considered to accelerate the planned Garda recruitment programme, along with the recruitment of further civilian and specialist staff.

I listened with interest to the suggestions Deputies had for other amendments which could be made to the Proceeds of Crime Acts. In the Minister’s opening remarks, she explained the need for the measures contained in this Bill to be enacted without delay to give the Criminal Assets Bureau the power to seize property quickly and to target the assets of lower level gang members. She also noted the delicate balance of the Proceeds of Crime Act as non-penal legislation. While the proposals for further amendments put forward today cannot be readily taken on board in the timeframe with which we all wish to see this Bill enacted, they can be considered as part of the wider review of the legislation in the medium term, as Deputy Lawless alluded to earlier.

This Bill will empower the CAB to move quickly to seize property and detain it for three weeks. It will give it the time it needs to prepare an application to the court. The proceeds of crime of moderate value, which were previously out of reach, will now be captured by the Proceeds of Crime Act. This Bill forms part of a wider Government response to the recent acute problems of organised crime. The response is comprehensive and will be sustained.

Deputy Howlin mentioned the area of sexual services. There is a concern that proposal could have negative implications for persons who offer sexual services and offer an opportunity for those who would exploit the law and exploit those who are vulnerable. For instance, the exemption of the purchase of sexual services from criminal conduct for the purpose of proceeds of crime could lead to sex workers being pressurised into holding moneys as legitimate fronts for pimps, traffickers and other organised criminals. It might also make it more difficult for the CAB to pursue proceeds of crime held by pimps or traffickers. These are matters that need to be considered further.

The response in this Bill is comprehensive and will be sustained. It includes law enforcement measures, investing in policing, new legislative powers and the deployment of specialist units but it also addresses the socioeconomic issues and investment in services to support resilient local communities. This response is being further developed in partnership with those local communities and everyone, including the Oireachtas, the Government, local representatives and local communities, has a part to play in defeating crime and tackling the factors that allow crime to develop. We will achieve more by working together in this way than we could ever achieve alone. I commend the Bill to the House.

See this speech in context