Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, last year I brought the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas, and for which we received cross-party support for which I am thankful. On 22 December 2021, it was signed by the President into law. This landmark legislation will transform the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, into a statutory and independent agency to be known as the corporate enforcement authority, CEA, which will have additional resources to investigate and prosecute white-collar crime. The legislation will provide the authority with greater autonomy and flexibility to adapt to the challenges of encouraging greater compliance with and enforcement of company law. As I said then, it is our firm intention to commence all aspects of the Act as soon as possible, once the organisational matters integral to the establishment of the authority have been finalised.

Last Thursday, the Minister of State, Deputy English, signalled in the Dáil our intention to make a simple but necessary amendment to address a cross-referencing error to a Schedule in the Act. The Tánaiste wrote to Deputy Quinlivan to inform him of that. The Government has approved the drafting of an amendment on Committee Stage of the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Dáil, and which it is hoped will be enacted without undue delay. In parallel, commencement orders are being drafted to commence the relevant provisions of the Act after its amendment.

I am mindful of the focus given to the resourcing of the CEA by Members as the Bill proceeded through the Oireachtas. On resourcing, my Department approved sanction for an increase of 35% on existing Civil Service numbers. Recruitment for these additional 14 staff is under way. A clerical officer and digital forensics manager have already been assigned. The post of director of governance and support operations will be filled shortly. The recruitment process is also under way for the posts of director of finance and ICT and a senior enforcement lawyer. I am satisfied that the CEA is being provided with the civilian staff it needs.

On Garda resourcing, the Garda Commissioner has committed that the number of members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the CEA will increase from seven to 16.

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