Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the establishment of a specific Garda insurance fraud unit; his views on whether there is a need for same with funding for the unit provided by the insurance industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29219/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Recommendation 26 of the ‘Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance’, published in January 2017, relates to exploring the potential for further cooperation between the insurance sector and An Garda Síochána in relation to insurance fraud investigation. Specifically, this involves considering the feasibility of establishing a specialised and dedicated insurance fraud unit within An Garda Síochána, funded by industry.

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) has engaged with Insurance Ireland, submitting a mechanism for further cooperation and a costed proposal to Insurance Ireland in the latter half of 2017. Insurance Ireland agreed to explore the proposal further, subject to a full cost benefit analysis, which was carried out by Insurance Ireland’s Chief Financial Officers Working Group. 

Insurance Ireland informed the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Michael D’Arcy, T.D., of the outcome of their analysis on 2 July, recommending industry funding of a Garda insurance fraud unit. This outcome has also been communicated to An Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner has approved the proposal in principle.

Officials in my Department are now engaging with the GNECB in order to progress this recommendation. The intention is that such a dedicated Garda unit will be funded by Insurance Ireland members and non-members alike, i.e. all entities writing non-life insurance business in Ireland. 

The final proposed mechanism will, of course, be subject to the formal approval of the Garda Commissioner and myself, as Minister for Justice and Equality.