Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures his Department is taking to increase the staffing levels in the Criminal Assets Bureau to facilitate the increased detection of the proceeds of crime due to the reduction of the threshold from €13,000 to €5,000. [36379/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy McGreehan for this timely question. The reason I say it is timely is that, as she is aware, last week marked the anniversary of the murder of Veronica Guerin, which, as the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Maxwell, will be aware as well, had a transformative effect on the policing of Irish criminals. One of the consequences of her murder was that laws were changed whereby we could go after criminals in the civil courts. The proceeds of crime legislation and the Criminal Assets Bureau legislation were direct consequences of that.

It is also instructive to note that when I am at European meetings - I know this is the same with the Ministers of State, Deputies Brophy and Collins - many of our colleagues from other European countries are very interested to hear that Ireland has a system in place to seize the assets of criminals and that it is a system based not on the criminal law but on the civil law and the civil standard of proof. Since that legislation was introduced nearly 30 years ago, it has been cutting-edge legislation that is now being followed by the rest of Europe and, I am sure, further afield.

It is also a timely question from Deputy McGreehan because yesterday I received from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel a stamped copy of the proceeds of crime Bill that I intend to introduce as soon as possible. The key reform under this legislation is the reduction of the waiting period for asset disposal from seven years to two, significantly accelerating access to seized assets. There is a whole series of other matters in the Bill which I will return to at a future date in the House.

As regards Deputy McGreehan's question about the budget and resourcing of CAB, I am pleased to tell her that the CAB budget for 2025 is €12.75 million, which is an increase of 13% since 2023. Between 2018 and 2024, authorised staff resources in CAB increased steadily from 90 to 101. There are also further details of CAB plans which are available in its strategic plan, which is published on the Department website. It is important to know that we will continue to resource CAB as it is an essential tool in our fight against crime.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. After the tragic and desperate loss of a lady of the calibre of Veronica Guerin, we have done a lot of good in her memory and name. CAB has been a hugely successful organisation and, as the Minister said, has been mirrored and copied in other countries.

We must ensure any resource that CAB needs, it gets because it is an incredibly effective organisation. We see the reality of crime in County Louth and all across the Border region. We see fuel smuggling and drug trafficking across the Border. Locally, and particularly in north Louth - I am sure it is mirrored across the Border counties - it often feels like we are seeing criminals operate with near impunity. As the Minister knows, the intent behind lowering the threshold for CAB from €13,000 to €5,000 was to root out all crime and ensure no ill-gotten gain was too small to pursue. We owe that to those who are law-abiding.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I have had the honour of going to Walter Scott House to meet Superintendent Gubbins, who heads up CAB. I am very impressed by the work it is doing. Although Walter Scott House is a fine new building, I am aware that the work of CAB is expanding and I am conscious that the expansion of its numbers will require further facilities. My Department has submitted a proposal as part of the review of the national development plan for funding for CAB accommodation. CAB is currently liaising with the OPW to find new accommodation. As any Minister will tell you, negotiations in respect of the national development plan are ongoing. I cannot guarantee it will happen - it is simply part of a proposal submitted - but it is something I am anxious to see occur. I want Deputy McGreehan to know that the Government will continue to support the growth and expansion of CAB to recover assets for the State. It is extremely important for criminals to know that if they stay in Ireland, their assets will be seized if it is not the case that they will be convicted and brought before the courts.

Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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It is good to hear that the Minister has been working on the commitment in the programme for Government. He mentioned the Bill that will come before the House. I reiterate it is important that we see a Border CAB unit looking at the Border region. It is not fair on law-abiding citizens and retailers that we have smuggling and illegal fuel coming across the Border. These are criminals whose criminal activity comes under the guise of smuggling. I want to ensure they are held to account.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with Deputy McGreehan. One of the reasons many serious criminals from Ireland have left and gone further afield is because of the threat they were exposed to from CAB. That is a positive development.

I want the Deputy to know there is no part of the country that is free from CAB's supervision or surveillance. In all communities around the country, CAB has initiated proceedings against individuals where it is believed they have assets which are the proceeds of crime and I want that to continue. I am sure it is happening in the Border region as well as other regions. It is not simply an organisation that concentrates its attention on Dublin or Cork or the main cities. It is absolutely national in its reach and international when it comes to its co-operation with other agencies.

Again, I agree with Deputy McGreehan. I will continue to resource CAB, which wants to extend its powers. This will happen through legislation I will introduce shortly into the House.