Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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181. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to update the laws that regulate the Criminal Assets Bureau in view of the sophistication of these gangs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52333/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Criminal Assets Bureau is a vital component in the State's law enforcement response to serious and organised crime. The remit of the Bureau is to target those persons who seek to derive benefit from criminal activities. In carrying out this role, the Bureau utilises all available legal remedies, primarily those contained in the Proceeds of Crime legislation, Taxes legislation and Social Welfare legislation, to deprive persons of benefits obtained from the proceeds of crime. Since its inception, Bureau processes have been continuously evaluated and, where necessary, strengthened to maximise the number of cases brought and assets targeted. Furthermore, an Expert Group, established under the auspices of my Department, is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the Proceeds of Crime legislation with a view to identifying possible improvements which would serve to strengthen the operation of the Criminal Assets Bureau. A number of matters are being reviewed by the Group 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. The work of the Group is not limited to these matters and any further proposals which the Bureau may bring forward which would serve to strengthen its operation can be taken into account during the review.