Written answers

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Corporate Governance

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason for the delay in the establishment of the corporate enforcement authority. [18630/22]

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 which provides for the establishment of the CEA, was signed by the President on December 22. A cross referencing error in section 11 relating to a Schedule in the Act which prevented the proper establishment of the CEA, was identified by the Office of Parliamentary Council in January. To address this an amendment to the Act was included in section 4 the Redundancy Payments (Amendment) Act 2022 which was signed by the President on the 31 March. This means that work can now proceed on the required Orders to commence provisions of the 2021 Act and provide for an establishment day for the Authority.

Establishing the Corporate Enforcement Authority at the earliest opportunity is a priority for me. Ensuring that its establishment is on the strongest possible basis, one which endures into the future is equally important. My intention is that establishment will take place once all the legal, operational, and resourcing matters integral to the CEA’s successful establishment, are finalised to my satisfaction.

Based on the Director’s assessment of the requirements of the new Authority 14 additional civilian staff and 9 additional members of An Garda Síochána will be assigned and seconded to the CEA. Once in place, this will represent an increase of 50% on total headcount.

Discussions are ongoing on arrangements related to the assignment of these additional garda resources and on the agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) and An Garda Síochána. I expect these discussions to be successfully concluded shortly.

Once the above matters are resolved to my satisfaction, I am confident the CEA will be established on the best possible basis which endures into the future

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