Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau to pursue white collar criminals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16730/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to strengthen the powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau in relation to the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime.

An Expert Group, established under the auspices of my Department, is currently reviewing the Proceeds of Crime legislation with a view to identifying possible improvements which would serve to enhance the powers of the Bureau.

The Group is engaged in a comprehensive review of the operation of the legislation with particular regard to the experience of the Bureau to date. Where that experience highlights any impediment to the proper pursuit of assets deriving, or suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, form criminal conduct, this will be examined.

With regard to the work undertaken so far by the Group, I can inform the Deputy that the Group is reviewing a number of areas including decreasing the amount of time which must elapse before criminal assets which have been frozen become the property of the State; increasing the powers of receivers over properties so as to immediately deprive criminals of the use of those properties; short term seizure of assets believed to be the proceeds of crime pending determination by the courts and further improving measures supporting international cooperation.

In due course, I will bring forward any necessary legislative proposals arising from the review by the Expert Group. My proposals in this regard will be brought forward in the normal way.