Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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6. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to deal with white-collar crime including the resourcing of State agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41561/20]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister and wish her well over the next number of months. My question relates to dealing with white-collar crime and the plans the Minister has to resource State agencies and the Garda Síochána properly to deal with this growing issue.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am strongly committed to tackling all forms of corruption and white-collar crime. The Deputy will be aware that last week I announced my intention to lead a new cross-Government plan to tackle these issues, following publication of the Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption. I intend to publish and start to implement an action plan to tackle economic crime and corruption early in the new year, which I have secured Government approval to do. I thank the former Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Mr. James Hamilton, and the members of his review group for their meticulous work in preparing this detailed report, on which I am determined to act.

Corruption and white-collar crime damage our economy, breed cynicism in our society and are a threat to our international reputation. As noted in the detailed report recently published, Ireland is a relatively small country with a population approaching 5 million. However, Ireland is listed as the fifth largest provider of wholesale financial services in the EU, with more than 400 international financial institutions located here and almost 100,000 people working in the sector. The State and its agencies must have all the powers available to clamp down on and prevent this type of crime. Ireland has a hard-won reputation as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment and as an international business hub and stepping up our efforts to tackle white-collar crime shows we are serious about maintaining and building that reputation. Businesses large and small must be confident they can operate safely and securely, particularly as more economic activity goes online. This trend has accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is not just about businesses. Consumers should know they can safely pay their bills and shop online and that they will not be subject to the threat of fraud.

The recommendations in the Hamilton review focus primarily on legislative and structural change and resourcing measures to enhance agency and multi-agency enforcement, as well as increasing capacity across the criminal justice system to prevent this crime. Examples of the recommendations include greater powers for investigating agencies to tackle economic crime and corruption, the establishment of an advisory council against economic crime and corruption, reform of the Ethics Acts and additional resourcing for the Standards in Public Office Commission, SIPO, the DPP and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The programme for Government recognises the reputational and economic damage that corruption and white-collar crime can cause to the State and commits the Government to introduce and implement new anti-fraud and anti-corruption structures. The development of our new plan to tackle economic crime and corruption will be informed by the recommendations of the Hamilton review. Work has already begun across Government to develop this action plan, which will set clear timelines for the introduction of a series of reforms to strengthen the State’s capacity to prevent and prosecute white-collar crime.

I am committed to ensuring that the Garda has the resources, both in terms of people and technology, to combat all forms of crime. An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff as well as driving significant developments in ICT. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, GNECB, is the main bureau of An Garda Síochána tasked with tackling economic crime. The bureau operates on a national basis and provides specialist support and guidance to regional investigators. There are currently competitions under way to strengthen the staffing levels in the GNECB’s financial intelligence unit and the GNECB itself as well as the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. This includes 11 new permanent detective sergeants who are due to be allocated to the GNECB this month, with additional resources expected in 2021.

I can also advise the Deputy that there have been a number of significant steps taken in recent years to strengthen the State’s ability to tackle corruption and related activities. In particular, the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 is very important legislation in the fight against corruption, both in Ireland and abroad. Further information relating to the Act and the Government’s cross-departmental approach to tackling corruption and bribery can be found on .

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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While I welcome the Minister's statement on this matter, a recent RTÉ programme outlined where over €8 million was taken from people over a number of years, but it is only in the last two to three years that a successful prosecution was brought. That is what concerns people, that something has gone on for ten to 15 years with little or no action taken and a reluctance or inability to be able to bring a successful prosecution during that period. One of the issues is whether we have a sufficient number of people with the expertise, especially in the area of forensic accounting. Perhaps the Minister will outline if additional people will be recruited to deal with that area, so we can deal with white-collar crime in an efficient and timely manner.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This is the reason we asked Mr. James Hamilton and those who worked with him to produce this report. It was to identify ways in which we can support the different agencies. This report will be implemented not just by my Department but also the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, working with An Garda Síochána, the Central Bank, SIPO and many other agencies. This is about ensuring we have everybody working and talking together and putting it on a more permanent footing. While there has been good engagement between the different agencies, to put it on a statutory footing and to have an annual report or plan which people have to stick to and which has a timeline will put more emphasis on this.

One could split a significant part of the recommendation into three - structural change, resourcing measures and legislation. The report found that most of the agencies were well resourced, but there was a lag when it came to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. There are currently ongoing competitions to fill a number of new places and I hope this will ensure there are the relevant and exact competencies that are required in An Garda Síochána to follow up on these cases.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. I hope we do not have to look at a repeat programme like the one broadcast on RTÉ recently. The sum of €8 million disappeared and action was taken only at a very late stage. I hope we do not see that in future.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Unfortunately, I have not seen the programme yet, but I will watch it over the weekend. I have read much of what was in the report. What is important here from a justice point of view is that the Garda has the capabilities and, in the same way as was outlined in the previous question, that the legislation is in place to ensure that it can do its work, and that it has the numbers to make sure it can carry out the physical investigations and the right level of expertise. We have a number of recommendations specifically relating to that. There are two recommendations on new legislation that is required but, thankfully, drafting is under way in the Department. The largest is a community policing Bill, which will underpin all of the new structures within An Garda Síochána. There are also recommendations on being able to detain and question people for longer, as well as recommendations on resourcing. While some of what is required is in train, more of it is new and we will get to work on that. I hope to introduce an implementation plan early in the new year and we will act on that. This is a very serious issue that impacts on many people's lives. It is important that all of the relevant authorities have the capability to deal with this so that we do not hear of any more cases such as the one Deputy Burke outlined.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The next questions are in the names of Deputies Gary Gannon, Neale Richmond, Niamh Smyth, Bríd Smith, Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, Éamon Ó Cuív and Brendan Griffin. I understand committee meetings are taking place and it is difficult for Members to be present, although Deputy Murnane O'Connor was present but has stepped out. Deputies should make arrangements with the Ceann Comhairle's office for their questions to be taken. Has that been done?

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand it has.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. We will move on to Question No. 14 as Deputy O'Sullivan is present..