David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has considered the cash for gold report of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality; the action she will take; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35774/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department published a report in June 2012 on the criminal justice aspects of the cash for gold trade; this Report is available on my Department's website www.justice.ie. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence were asked to consider the content of that report, obtain the views of all relevant interested parties and make such report/recommendations as the Committee deemed proportionate and appropriate in the public interest to the Houses of the Oireachtas and to Government. The Committee provided their observations to my predecessor in May 2013. The Committee's response made a number of valuable suggestions to be considered in addressing this issue; it also noted that the advent of specific 'Cash for Gold' businesses was a relatively new phenomenon and that drafting legislation to regulate this sector would be complex.

I am anxious to adopt the best approach to potential regulation in the area of cash for gold businesses, having regard to the potentially significant impact it would have on a broad range of other businesses in addition to 'cash for gold' outlets, including businesses such as jewellers, antique dealers, etc. For that reason my Department has published a consultation document setting out potential options for addressing this issue. In that context, the observations of the Committee were carefully examined by my Department and have significantly informed the drafting of this consultation document.

This consultation document is available on my Department's website. The closing date for receipt of submissions in relation to this consultation is 30 October 2015.