Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The fact is CAB is being emulated by other jurisdictions because of its success. It has a lot of work to do but it has done a serious amount of work. I commend An Garda Síochána on the success it has had in bringing an end to a production facility in Celbridge. There is a lot we can celebrate. The significant budget that has gone into An Garda Síochána increases every year. It is a commitment of the Minister and Government. We should consider figures such as €1.65 billion and the enhancements to Garda ICT and transportation facilities. In terms of dealing with crime and white-collar crime, the Government has not been found wanting and will not be.

The legislation is very important, not just to put a mechanism in place to deal with people who are corrupt and who choose to abuse their positions but also in terms of bringing us into line with best international practice and ensuring the country is meeting its obligations under various EU treaties. As the Minister has quite correctly pointed out, there are periodic reviews. An important review will take place in June to ensure we comply with OECD and UN obligations.That is all important.

Unfortunately, white-collar crime is borderless. It is no longer specific to any one country or region. We have to be an important component of an international response to these issues. No more than cybercrime, white-collar crime involves money, resources and criminal activity moving from one jurisdiction to another with great ease. Dealing with white-collar crime requires an international response. The Bill will help to bring us into a sphere whereby our structures are compliant with best international practice. I have no doubt that the Bill will evolve. As time goes on and new forms of corruption are identified and new mechanisms to deal with corruption are identified, we will have to introduce further amendments to the Bill.

The Bill is a significant incremental step in the right direction to ensure that Ireland has as good a suite of measures to deal with white-collar crime as any other country. As I said, dealing with white-collar crime continues to be a work in progress. Unfortunately, criminals always seem to be one step or two steps ahead of various jurisdictions. They work together and share their intellectual blaggardism. It is up to Governments, through Europol and the work we do in association with our international partners in Europe and elsewhere, to ensure that our laws continue to improve and loopholes are closed.

I am privileged, along with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, to represent this country on the European scrutiny committee on Europol which is essentially an intellectual sharing organisation. It does not perform policing, but deals with intellectual crime and ensures that intelligence gathering is at the best level it can be.

I know from having attended meeting in Brussels that the work Europol is doing in respect of white-collar crime is groundbreaking. An Garda Síochána feed into that and is also benefitting from the intellectual capacity and gathering ability of Europol.

The Bill is important. It is overdue, but it is coming in under the watch of the Minister and I sincerely hope it gets all-party support in the House as it did in the Lower House.