Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-15
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Garret Kelleher (FG), Industrial and Commercial Panel

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire, an Teachta O'Callaghan. Gabhaim buíochas leis as ucht teacht isteach chun an Bille tábhachtach seo a phlé linn. In Ireland, as was said, we are fortunate to have what is internationally regarded to be one of the best systems of civil forfeiture, overseen and implemented by the Criminal Assets Bureau, which was established in 1996 by the then Minister for Justice, Nora Owen. The decisions to introduce the Proceeds of Crime Act and to establish the Criminal Assets Bureau came following the high-profile murders of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare by the provisional IRA and the courageous, well-respected and widely acclaimed investigative journalist, Veronica Guerin, whose pioneering and tenacious reporting had done so much to expose Dublin's drug cartels and those involved in organised crime. Both of these horrendous murders took place in the same month, June 1996. As well as being unimaginable tragedies for the families of the two victims, who had in their own ways done so much for the Irish State, both murders were also considered to have been serious attacks upon the State and the rule of law in Ireland. It was recognised that a new and more effective approach needed to be taken against those involved in organised crime and terrorist and paramilitary activities by hitting them where it hurt, increasing powers to seize assets, undermining and weakening criminal networks, and preventing the further investment of the proceeds of crime.
The establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau was, at the time, an example of close co-operation between Ministers in different Departments. I know, having spoken with former Minister for Justice, Nora Owen, that she would give an awful lot of credit to the then Minister for Finance, Ruairí Quinn, with whom she worked closely to ensure that what was being delivered was robust and effective. That it has stood the test of time is a testament to both of them and their close co-operation together in government. The fact is that it came as a result of a multi-agency approach. Huge credit must be given, both for the establishment of the Criminal Assets Bureau and its success over the past three decades, to the work of An Garda Síochána, as has been acknowledged, and to Revenue for its collaboration with what was the Department of Social Welfare and is now the Department of Social Protection. As an example of collaborative work yielding such positive results, it cannot be overstated.
Given the success of the Criminal Assets Bureau, it is hard to imagine that at the time of its establishment, it was not universally welcomed as a necessary and positive move in the right direction to target those involved in organised crime, but was looked upon by some as being anti-human rights and civil liberties. In this regard, it is important to acknowledge the rights of all people to do what they want themselves with their own money, but only as long as this money has been earned or received legally. When this legislation was initially introduced, I understand there was a limit on bank deposits of somewhere in the region of £13,000, but that was circumvented by people looking to lodge lesser amounts. That emphasises the importance of the continuing evolution and review of legislation, which is what we are doing today. It is very important that we have the likes of sunset clauses, where necessary, that we review and refresh legislation, reflect upon the sophistication of organised crime groups, and make every effort possible to ensure that the legislation continues to be robust and effective into the future.
Like my colleagues, I welcome the changes that are being proposed, in particular the expedition in the seizing of illegally acquired assets from serious criminals, the closing-off of avenues to delay and obstruct the legal process, and enhancing the investigative powers of the Criminal Assets Bureau. I look forward to looking into the 19 sections in more detail in the later Stages of the Bill. On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I welcome the changes being proposed.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-15