Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Criminal Assets Bureau investigations which have taken place in each of the past five years in County Clare; the Garda divisions within which these investigations took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23434/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Criminal Assets Bureau investigations are not conducted by reference to particular counties or Garda divisions and that most investigations involve two or more different parts of the country. I am further informed that disclosure of results of any analysis which focused on particular counties or Garda divisions could interfere with the operation of ongoing investigations. This is because for some years the results for many counties or divisions would be zero or one and disclosure would have the effect of identifying individuals, when an investigation commenced and whether the Criminal Assets Bureau is conducting investigations. The Deputy will appreciate that this would be wholly undesirable.