Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 6, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:

“Amendment of section 4 of Principal Act

6.Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended in subsection (1) by substituting “4 years” for “7 years”.”.

The reasoning behind this amendment is that in 2011, the Department of Justice and Equality set up a working group to examine the proceeds of crime legislation. As far as I know, that report has never been made. However, it was indicated by the then Minister, Mr. Shatter, and by CAB in 2013, two years after the working group was established, that CAB had conducted an analysis of its cases and found that after two or three years, and definitely after four years, very little happens in regard to confiscation orders. It indicated it wanted the retention period brought down to at least four years, if not lower. On that basis, we have put forward this amendment. I understand the Department has some fears in this regard and I would like the Minister of State to outline his concerns.