Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether there is a role for gardaí in regulating the cash for gold industry that has recently mushroomed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5752/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Neither my Department nor An Garda Síochána have any function in relation to the regulation of legal transactions in gold. Furthermore, the purchase of gold is not specifically regulated in criminal legislation.

However, if members of the public have suspicions that goods being sold or traded may have been stolen, the correct action is for these suspicions to be referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation.

An Garda Síochána enforce the provisions of the criminal law in respect of theft and robbery, including theft and robbery of jewellery and precious metals. While the purchase of gold is not specifically regulated, the circumstances under which gold is being bought or sold may indicate the commission of certain offences, for example the handling of stolen property and or the possession of stolen property, which are offences under sections 17 and 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001 respectively.