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JUSTICE MINISTER HELEN McEntee has today published a plan to tackle economic crime and corruption across the state.
The plans are based on a previous report done by former Director of Public Prosecution, James Hamilton, which was published in December last year.
Under the plan, An Garda Síochana and the Revenue Commission would be given expanded powers to investigate economic crimes and corruption.
Currently, this is expected to take place by the end of 2021, with legislation currently being prepared by the Department of Justice.
An Garda Síochana is also being asked to submit a resourcing plan for the long-term needs of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau by the summer.
There will also be a new Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption established, which will advise on policy responses to white-collar crime, and is expected to be launched this autumn.
This Advisory Council is expected to submit a multi-annual strategy to cabinet to go over methods of tackling white-collar crime.
McEntee said that the plan is being put in place to ensure those who engage in white-collar criminality are caught and punished.
“White-collar crime undermines confidence in our economic system and damages our economy itself,” said McEntee
Those who commit such crimes will be caught and punished, and this implementation plan will give the State the tools to vigorously pursue those criminals.
“At an international level, this implementation plan also signals Ireland’s commitment to tackling economic crime and corruption.”
McEntee also said that the plans will work on a cross-governmental basis, with some actions of the plan falling under portfolios outside of Justice.
“It is important to note that a number of the actions in the implementation plan fall within the remit other Ministerial colleagues, and the entire Government will be taking the initiative to progress this plan.”
The Hamilton review group was originally set up by former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan in 2017.
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Will this include giving confidential state documents to a mate who has skin in the game? Asking for a friend…..
@Anto H: I don’t know, maybe check the database.
If they’re up, of course. What time is it in Croatia anyway?
Very hard not to feel like this will be filled with enough loopholes to keep a rollercoaster factory going.
Also, is this tacit admission of what everyone already knew? That white collar crime goes unpunished
@Keniby: Nothing will come from this PR exercise. How many cases have we seen over the years where corruption was proven not punishment never happened? They have no interest in fixing the system now.
@David Corrigan: they’ve got a few, but the problem lies with the judiciary who don’t quite see these guys as real criminals.
@John Mulligan: they’re just guys in suits who took a wrong turn in life and made some mistakes.
@John Mulligan: The judiciary are enabled to act like that because of the holes in the legislation.
But but but I won dat money on de horses………
You can start a pilot scheme in The Dáil. Should get a good start in there.
Look at the government also. Oh wait, an apology seems to fix everything…
Dara Murphy – Fine Gael TD who was double jobbing Europe while stealing money in expenses from taxpayers has never faced consequences.
Fine Gael said they were going to deal with his specific situation. What have they done?
Pressure from Sinn Fein. Finally an opposition that gets things done even when denied power.
The FFG parties will be wrote off, if this goes ahead.
@Barry Lynch: if anybody has something to worry about, it’s the party awash with money and dirty diesel.
@John Mulligan: Keep deflecting. Usual tactic.
Will it start with an investigation into Killkenny County Council.
Where’s the plan to help tackle bike crime??
Looking forward to all the legal experts in here saying what should and shouldn’t be included. I don’t know why the government just doesn’t go directly to all the highly qualified, and apparently available 24/7, journal commentors for the draft.
@Anto Curran: It sounds like you are disappointed with the contents of the article. Do you want corruption to be stopped in Ireland or are you happy enough to keep looking the other way Anto?
Are we supposed to believe that no laws on economic crime and corruption exist today. You could go back as far as 1997 and examine the Mahon tribunal or its true title ‘Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments’. Then the Moriarty Tribunal or Tribunal of Inquiry into certain Payments to Politicians and Related Matters.
With costs running into the 100′s of millions and Bertie just another Taoiseach to walk away without any corruption charges. Mary Haney never faced justice for saving Charles Haughty from any criminal charge and allowing him to keep his accumulated wealth. A women still on the gravy train with the taxpayer still paying for her hair cuts.
Helen McEntee will have another chance to repeat history if any criminal charges are brought against Leo.
New legislation is not what’s needed. We all need to hold politicians to account and break from the parish pump political ideal. Otherwise we are just repeating history while our country’s recourses are sold out beneath us.
Will someone explain why if we are in the EU – why I cannot bank / mortgage in another EU country -
The Irony lol
in 2018 Paddy Cosgrave was interviewed on the late late show. On it he said “The UN have said that Ireland is one of the only western nations not to implement very basic anti corruption and anti bribery legislation.” he also said “Part of the IMF bailout which was never introduced was to rapidly introduce legislation to combat anti corruption and anti bribery which was drafted in 2012 and to be rushed through the dail, but it never happened. 6 years later it is still there but they have removed core parts of the bill.” Ie if a politician has been found to of taken a bribe there is no requirement in law that he be removed from his job.
The interview was in 2018 I believe. If anyone believes that the govt have any intention in tackling white collar crime then they are very naïve.
The Minister beating the century old party political drum with another bill to protect businesses (most likely not SME’s either). I’m not saying it’s a terrible idea but the last law was to the benefit of insurance companies? C’mon Helene who you working for? Going to do anything for the people of Ireland?
She doesn’t have far to look….
Should be no problem finding customers just ask the many victims
Have to laugh at all the negative dimwits on here who spend half their lives calling for something like this to happen & then when it does they’re beside themselves with criticism!
An Garda will be given extra powers to investigate white collar crimes, is this the same Garda that had 130 bank accounts?
Considering why she became minister thats a f joke
have your say