Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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647. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made on the implementation of the 25 recommendations accepted in relation to the report of the review group on structures and strategies to prevent, investigate and penalise economic crime and corruption; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7067/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to tackling white collar crime and corruption and to the implementation of new anti-corruption and anti-fraud measures informed by the Hamilton Review.

I am strongly committed to tackling all forms of corruption and white-collar crime and the Deputy will be aware that I recently announced my intention to lead a new cross-government plan to tackle these issues, following the publication of the Hamilton Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption.

I would like to thank the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr James Hamilton, and the members of his Review Group for their meticulous work in preparing their detailed report, which I am determined to act upon.

The report of the Review Group contains recommendations that focus primarily on legislative, structural and resourcing measures to enhance agency and multi-agency enforcement and prevention capacity in the criminal justice sphere.

Officials in my department are currently drafting an implementation plan for the report’s recommendations, in consultation with relevant bodies, to identify priorities and set timelines for the introduction of a series of reforms to strengthen the State’s capacity to prevent and prosecute white-collar crime. I expect to bring an implementation plan to Cabinet shortly for approval prior to publication.