Robbie Gallagher
Labour Panel · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I want to raise an issue that I feel is having a very detrimental and suffocating effect on rural Ireland. This is the declining number of taxis available. It is so bad now that it is causing an economic bottleneck and, in my opinion, is also acting as a social barrier.”
“This is killing the night-time economy especially. People would like to go out and socialise, which we would like to see, and go out for a bite to eat or a few drinks or whatever. It is important that we encourage this type of behaviour.”
“I join others in thanking all of the staff in the campus of Leinster House for their hospitality and the manner in which they look after us all year in, year out. I say to all of my colleagues in the Chamber that I enjoy their company, perhaps not all of the time but most of the time I am glad to say.”
“I too would like to raise the urgent case of the approximately 200 people in this country who are living with Friedreich's ataxia. It is a rare and progressive condition that gradually takes away a person's mobility and independence. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition but there is hope.”
“Unfortunately, they had to turn around and head home without getting that news. Ten other EU countries have already made this treatment available but Ireland continues to wait while this progressive condition for those who have it continues.”
“I will raise an issue that affects thousands of people in this country but, in my opinion, does not get the attention it deserves. That is the shockingly poor return Irish people are getting on their savings in Irish banks.”
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“It can be a worthwhile and rewarding career but it is also a very dangerous career. The Executive must always be aware of the unique job that being a member of An Garda Síochána is. In relation to the numbers, as Senator McDowell outlined, we currently have in the region of 14,400. The target is to get to 15,000. With the growth in population, more needs to happen in that space. It has been disappointing this last number of years that we have not been able to get the momentum going. There are issues surrounding that in relation to the fact that Templemore was closed for a period and Covid-19, etc. We have to acknowledge that as well.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Collins, go dtí an Teach seo inniu. I welcome the Minister of State. On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I welcome the motion put forward here by my colleagues this afternoon. I agree with every single word that was said by them in relation to the motion. I also take on board the sentiments and comments of Senator McDowell, the former Minister for justice, as well. There is no doubt that being a member of An Garda Síochána is a unique profession. Very few people put their clothes on in the morning, leave the house and perhaps might not come back that evening. Unfortunately, 90 members of An Garda Síochána lost their lives in the course of their duties. That figure puts in stark reality the dangers associated with being a member of the Garda.”
“The inquiry has recognised the considerable efforts and effective progress made by the Irish authorities. Our position is clear. The inquiry must be thorough, comprehensive and focused on delivering truth and justice for the families and survivors. This is the very least they deserve.”
“We fully support the Omagh inquiry, following a formal decision in July 2024 and commitments made in the programme for Government. Assisting the inquiry established by another sovereign state presents legal and constitutional challenges, in particular around protecting State interests and citizens' rights. Despite these complications, I am glad to report significant progress has been made. A memorandum of understanding has been agreed with the inquiry chair, systems have been put in place to allow the disclosure of sensitive information and dedicated resources from An Garda Síochána have supported that process. To date, approximately 20,000 pages of material, mainly Garda documentation, have been provided to the inquiry, with further disclosures continuing.”
“The acquittal of Sean Hoey, Colm Murphy's nephew, who was tried for murder, among other charges, regarding Omagh in 2006, as well as the admission of two PSNI officers that they misled the court, were raised during the review. Allegations that the security forces did not act on advance warnings has consistently been raised in regard to the Omagh bombing. The Omagh bombing inquiry is the statutory independent public inquiry established in 2024 by the UK Government to consider whether the bombing in Omagh on 15 August 1988 could reasonably have been prevented by the UK state authorities. The Government has condemned the abhorrent criminal actions of those who planned and perpetrated the attack and planted and detonated the bomb.”
“The bombing occurred on 15 August 1998, four months after the Good Friday Agreement had been signed. The bomb exploded in Omagh at 3.04 p.m., killing 29 people and injuring countless more. The Real IRA claimed responsibility three days later. It announced a ceasefire a few weeks later. Colm Murphy was convicted in regard to the bombing by the Special Criminal Court in 2002. His conviction was quashed in 2005. While several more people have been arrested, no one has been convicted. In 2001, a police ombudsman report criticised the RUC over its handling of the initial investigation. In 2008, the Northern Ireland Policing Board appointed a panel of independent experts to review the police's investigation of the bombing.”
“It was a senseless and brutal terrorist attack, resulting in the loss of 31 lives and countless more injuries. Fianna Fáil condemns this abhorrent criminal action and those who planned and perpetrated the attack and planted and detonated the bomb. Our commitment, alongside that of the UK Government, is essential to addressing the enormous impact of Troubles-related violence and the legitimate needs and expectations of victims, families and survivors who have long searched for truth and accountability. The Bill provides a robust statutory framework that seeks to maximise the assistance to be provided to the inquiry to fulfil its terms of reference, while also safeguarding the essential interests of the State and the rights of the witnesses involved.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire ar ais go dtí an Teach seo. We in Fianna Fáil very much welcome the debate and support the Bill. The Bill, as the Minister outlined, has a single purpose, namely to assist the Omagh bombing inquiry established by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in February 2024 to investigate whether the bombing could have been prevented by the UK's state authorities. The formal decision taken by the Government on 9 July 2024 to assist the inquiry was taken in recognition of the importance of the inquiry for families and survivors in their quest for truth and justice. The decision is reflected in the programme for Government. The bombing of the town of Omagh on 15 August 1998 was the single worst atrocity of the Troubles.”
“The next day of action is not until 19 May so there is a window. I ask all sides to re-engage to find a solution to this outstanding issue.”
“As part of the journey they were on, an independent report was carried out to see exactly what pay increases were due to the members of the service because of the changes in professionalism they had adopted. That report, which was released back in 2022, recommended that pay increases, among other things, be given to the NAS. Apparently, that has never happened. I understand agreement was reached by union heads but it was balloted to the members and that was rejected. Apparently, it has been in abeyance since. When members tried to bring the matter up again to get what they feel they are entitled to, there were preconditions being entered into that they feel are unfair. All of these disputes ultimately are resolved and I call on the HSE to re-engage with the National Ambulance Service with a view to finding a resolution to this problem.”
“Today, as other Members have stated, members of the National Ambulance Service find themselves on the picket line. I visited a number of them this morning in County Monaghan before I travelled to Leinster House. The one thing they all had in common was that none of them wanted to be there. As much as that is for sure. They wanted to do what they do very well; look after the communities in which they serve. Their big gripe, as they explained to me this morning, is that their service has changed completely from what was once upon a time a patient transfer service to now giving very sophisticated medical attention to patients on-site. That professionalism, which has been recognised across the National Ambulance Service, has resulted in greater patient outcomes, and that is for sure.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive response. I know she is taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. I welcome the fact that the HSE is in negotiations with the provider of the vaccine. It is a welcome development and hopefully positive news might flow from that. We all agree that shingles is a very debilitating disease. Unfortunately, when someone gets it at a certain age, it is very hard for them to get rid of it and it has negative consequences on the quality of their life going forward. It is worthwhile. Professor Luke O'Neill reckons we could save €8 million per annum by having this. I very much welcome the news that it is being looked at and look forward to it progressing in the not-too-distant future.”
“It can have everlasting and significant consequences, and there should be recognition that the vaccination for older people is an issue of prevention, equity and healthy aeging. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.”
“Professor Luke O'Neill, whom I am sure the Minister of State is aware of, has said that assuming a 70% uptake on the vaccine and overall instance of around 10,000 cases a year, the vaccine could result in a saving to the State of up to €8 million per annum. Active Retirement Ireland has recommended the vaccine for all adults aged 65 and over, as well as for certain immunocompromised groups. I call on the Government to actively examine ways to enable the vaccine to be publicly funded or for State-supported access, including engagement with the makers on the actual pricing of it. Right now, access depends on ability to pay only and that is not equitable. Shingles is not simply an acute condition.”
“Consultant geriatrician and stroke physician at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Professor Rónán Collins, has said vaccination is the greatest single medical advance in modern history. There are many calls for the shingles vaccine to be made available for free to those over 65 years of age, similar to what our nearest neighbour in the UK has done. However, the vaccine is only available privately at a cost of around €480 for the two doses. The vaccine is very effective, and several countries provide for it, including the UK, Australia, Luxembourg and Canada. Clearly, they see the extra benefit in the evidence of the drug's effectiveness in protecting not just against shingles, but also against Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.”
“Cuirim fáilte mór roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. She is very welcome back to the Chamber this afternoon. I thank her for taking the time out to be here. They say a stitch in time saves nine and the evidence that the shingles vaccination not only protects people from what can be a very painful illness and its possible complications, but also helps prevent cardiovascular disease, stroke and dementia is surely a case in point. Shingles is an infection that causes a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus and can lead to many complications. It is estimated that every one in ten adults could develop shingles every year. Keeping older people healthy and active for as long as possible in their lives is a vitally important goal, not just for their quality of life, but also with regard to the costs and pressures on the health system.”
“A more tapered approach based on turnover might have been a fairer way of doing it. Notwithstanding all the Minister of State has said about the ills of smoking, which I fully agree with, I feel that the small retailers are disproportionately affected by this legislation.”
“I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response. I fully agree with her about the ills of smoking and we can add vapes to that. We are all trying to do what we can to limit, where possible, the use of these products. That said, I still feel strongly that small outlets, small convenience stores and small off-licences in many of our rural towns and villages are disproportionately affected by this legislation, which came in three years ago. Although I believe it went through both Houses, the fee amount was not mentioned at that point in time. We are where we are but I feel a more tapered approach that depends on sales would be a fairer way of doing it. Many small shops and petrol stations around the country would not make €1,000 selling cigarettes in ten years, never mind in one year. I think the fee is excessive in that regard.”
“For myself, living in a Border county, we all know that our neighbours in Northern Ireland do not charge a licensing fee and we feel this will result in leakage of potential business from small retailers along the Border area into Northern Ireland, not just for the product that we are talking about here today but, indeed, will result in other products being sold as well and a loss of business there too. The Minister of State will be aware there is a lot of pressure on small businesses at the moment, so it is important to ensure that the new licensing system does not put an unfair burden on small shops. The overwhelming majority of retailers in Ireland have a responsible attitude in selling gated products like vapes and take it very seriously. I would welcome the Minister of State's comments on the matter.”
“It is also important, however, to consider the broader implications, particularly for many small retailers. The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, CSNA, which represents retailers of all sizes, from independent shops to multi-franchise owners, has expressed its concern at the new combined €1,800 annual licensing fee that will come as a shock to many tobacco retailers in the convenience, forecourt and newsagent sectors. These are the small sectors I am referring to.”
“The thing is that small local shops are expected to pay the same cost as larger retailers, which I feel is unfair. In the current economic climate, small shops are already struggling and many cannot afford this additional €1,800 annual cost. I would imagine that many small corner shops that I am aware of, and I am sure the Minister of State is too, would not make €1,000 profit in selling cigarettes in five years, never mind one year. Many people will simply go to large retailers if they cannot purchase cigarettes from their small local shops. This change signifies a more robust approach to the regulation of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling products, which is a good thing, and it emphasises the Government's commitment to public health and consumer safety.”
“Obviously these higher fees are aimed, I would imagine, at reducing the number of outlets selling tobacco and vapes, and particularly to reduce youth access to them. Retailers selling products before 2 February this year have six months to apply for a new licence. The HSE can suspend or revoke licences and the enforcement authority can publicly name the businesses convicted of such offences. We all know the history of the tobacco industry and the lethality of smoking but there is an issue of fairness here with regard to the impact that this new measure will have on small family-run businesses. This new measure will affect all shops selling these products, including individual outlets with larger chains, and the licence will require annual renewal.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor, to the House this afternoon. The licensing fees for selling tobacco and nicotine products in Ireland are increasing dramatically to an annual system under the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023. Up until this point, tobacco retailers faced a one-time fee of €50 per annum, and there were no licensing requirements for selling vapes. The new fees that apply per premises for tobacco products only have now increased to €1,000 per annum, and for nicotine-inhaling products like vapes it is €800 per annum, giving a combined fee of €1,800 if any retailer was to sell both, which is a sizable amount of money.”
“We need additional funding in order to address that and I am heartened by the fact that the Minister of State will take the message back very strongly to the Minister that Cavan and Monaghan are two areas in particular that need special attention because of the condition of the local road network in both counties, unfortunately.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I fully appreciate that this is not his area of responsibility and that he is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Coming from rural Ireland where we have no train network and a limited bus service, the only show in town to get from A to B for many families is the local and regional roads. The condition of the local roads in Monaghan and Cavan has reached a critical stage. School transport is being affected because some bus drivers are refusing to go up certain roads. Home help carers are struggling to tend to their clients in the morning and evening. We have a serious problem. We need additional funding. Even before the war in Iran started, we had a serious issue with regard to roads funding in both counties.”
“As the conflict in the Middle East continues, so too will the uncertainty as to how this will negatively affect our budgets and the number of roads it will be possible to address. Clearly, we have a serious problem. The funding we have received to date, although welcome, is totally inadequate compared to the needs of both counties. From talking to the Minister of State's colleagues in County Cork, I am sure the situation there is somewhat similar. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.”
“The cost of fixing the 190 km of road needed to bring it down to the national average was previously estimated to cost €33 million, based on 2024 construction figures. However, due to rising inflation in the cost of materials and contractors, this figure is now estimated at approximately €46 million. That is an increase of €13 million in two years, which is staggering. I think the Minister of State will agree with me in that regard. The council says current funding levels are not sufficient to eliminate the maintenance backlog. County Cavan is in a similar situation. Funding of €234 million is needed to remediate the 1,140 km of road in this category. By contrast, the planned €55 million funding for road works on sections of the worst roads in the county seems like a drop in the ocean.”
“Monaghan County Council received €17 million from the Department of Transport this year for local and regional works, and it also contributed €5.8 million from its own coffers to repair those roads. More than a quarter of its total annual budget is dedicated to road maintenance. Local authorities use data from the pavement, surface and condition index, PSCI, to monitor the condition of local and regional roads. Roads are surveyed and given ratings from 1 to 10, with 1 being very poor and 10 being excellent. Based on the most recent data, almost 400 km of Monaghan's local and regional roads are categorised as being in very poor condition. These are roads that are susceptible to the formation of potholes. This is almost double the national average.”
“It will no doubt have a severe impact on the cost of road maintenance and, by extension, the number of roads that can be repaired and maintained. Some local authorities have already reported price increases of approximately 25% for road maintenance materials. In many instances, they might not meet their targets this year as a result. In my area of Cavan and Monaghan, roads are in a critically poor state. For example, Monaghan has the second highest rural road network density in the country. Monaghan County Council has stated that it has experienced an approximate 25% increase in costs that it believes is directly attributed to the conflict and war in the Middle East.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach seo ar maidin. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here. We can all agree that our roads have taken a severe battering from incessant rain over the past number of months. Roads are badly damaged everywhere, from country, local and national roads to our streets and motorways. In addition to funding from local authorities' coffers, a sum of €718 million in State road grants has been allocated to local authorities for the improvement and maintenance of both regional and local roads around the country. That was before the war in Iran erupted, however, which has caused the price of diesel, petrol and home heating oil to hit our pockets. As the Minister of State will be aware, oil is a necessary component in bitumen and tar.”
“I too welcome the visitors to the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their day in Leinster House. I welcome the Minister back to the House on this very important motion, which I am very happy to support on behalf of the Fianna Fáil grouping. It is vitally important we have the maximum co-operation with our nearest neighbour, the UK, in our fight against crime. Fortunately, relationships between our Government and the UK Government seem to be on a much better footing than when the Brexit vote took place, which is a positive. There is no need for me to elaborate any further. The co-operation is vital. The fight against crime is a common fight we share and in order to tackle that we need maximum co-operation between both jurisdictions.”
“I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union vis-à-vis the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland regarding the determination under Article 540(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of the date from which personal data under Article 537 of that Agreement may be supplied by Member States to the United Kingdom, a copy of which was laid before Seanad Éireann on 27th February, 2026.”
“Importantly, we are focusing on prevention. Youth diversion initiatives now being rolled out nationwide aim to break the cycle of offending through early intervention, family supports and community engagements. Through these combined measures and increased capacity, smarter sentencing and early intervention, I am delighted to see that the Department and the Minister are building a safer, fairer and more effective justice system. I wish him well in that continued work. I am sharing time, if that is in order, with my colleague, Senator Fitzpatrick.”
“The Bill includes an amendment to oblige courts to consider a community service order in lieu of a prison sentence of up to 24 months' duration, the current threshold being 12 months, and to give reasons why they consider a CSO should not be imposed in such a case. It will also increase the maximum community service order that a judge may order from 240 hours to 480 hours. The latest statistics show the cost of housing a prisoner in prison for 12 months is up to €99,000 per annum, which is a huge sum. It is €256 per day to keep someone in prison. It is an alarming figure and one that we must keep in mind. As the Minister mentioned, there will be investment in the Probation Service for developing electronic monitoring and expanding early release and reintegration programmes, particularly for women.”
“For many offences carrying sentences of up to 24 months, community service can often serve both the public interest and rehabilitation goals, particularly during times of overcrowding. I welcome the fact that legislative changes have been introduced to support greater use of community service orders. The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which completed Second Stage in January this year, proposes amendments to the community service Act 1983 to support and encourage greater use of community service orders, CSOs. I fully support that legislation. In fact, I have spoken to many people in my own area who have partaken of that scheme and it has put them on a new pathway. It is hugely positive.”
“The Minister is welcome back to the House. We in Fianna Fáil very much welcome this important debate. We are acutely aware of the significant capacity pressures across the prison system and the challenges they create for staff, those in custody and the general public. Providing adequate prison capacity is essential for public safety, rehabilitation and the effective functioning of our justice system. That is why I am delighted to hear that the Minister is prioritising investment in the prison estate, with €495 million committed between 2026 and 2030 to deliver over 1,500 additional prison spaces by 2031. However, as the Minister outlined, increasing capacity alone is not enough. We must also reduce the unnecessary reliance on custodial sentences.”
“People can drop into the local authority with their passport to rubber-stamp and confirm their identity. If people are reluctant to give their PPSN the door is not closed as there are other ways. If they drop in with their ID to the local authority they will be able to get around this issue. I encourage everybody who has not responded to please do so. This is very important work for which we have been calling for years and years. I hope that at the end of this process we will end up with a register that is as accurate as it can possibly be.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I pay tribute to the staff of the local authorities for the huge volume of work they are doing on this. As I have said, thousands of letters have gone out. Monaghan County Council has sent out 2,000 letters to people three times looking for them to engage. I encourage these people to engage because if they do not do so by 31 May, they could be removed from the register. There is a reluctance among people in some parts to pass on their PPS number as they are afraid it may be used for an alternative purpose. I understand this is not the case. Even if they do not wish to give their PPS number, it is only being asked for purely from the point of view of making sure the names on the register are accurate and legal.”
“I would be grateful if the Minister of State could make a statement on where we are at with this entire process and what other measures, from the point of view of publicity, we can take to ensure when the process is complete that we have a document which is accurate and in which people can have confidence that those on the register are entitled to be on it and are only on the register once.”
“Based on reported data, it is estimated that 11 local authorities have more people on their local electoral register than the entire population of those counties, which is a staggering statistic. A complete register is one on which those who are eligible electors are registered on each of the electoral registers. The accuracy of the electoral registers, as well as how they are managed and maintained, is fundamental to our democratic process. Accuracy needs resources in the long term to ensure the management of our electoral register is improved and maintained. I ask the Minister of State whether he is happy there are sufficient staff to undertake this huge volume of work. Communication with the public is vital in the pursuit of accuracy and to ensure people understand what is happening and why.”
“It is important to say that at this point nobody has been taken off the register, but those who have not responded after receiving three letters from the local authorities will be taken off. I advise anybody to return the correspondence or call in to speak to the people involved. Voter.ie will be the new vehicle for the provision for online registration across the country, a rolling register and a new national local government electoral register. We all appreciate that accuracy indicators are key for an online accurate electoral register in which there are no faults, no duplicates, no incorrect entries, and where all the data held for an entry are correct and each person is registered only once.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach seo inniu. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his schedule to be here. Monaghan and Cavan county councils, that of the Minister of State and many other local authorities around the country are undergoing a process referred to as the register of electors’ data cleansing project. In layperson's language, that means trying to tidy up the register. It is a huge volume of work. As I am sure Senator Tully has done, I have spoken to colleagues in local authorities in Cavan and Monaghan about this issue. Thousands of letters have gone out to people to try to get them to update their information.”
“It raises many questions, and if the Minister were in this House, he may very well be able to give us the answer to those questions.”
“Turning to the poultry sector, last year we imported €629 million worth of poultry products into the country, while we exported approximately €165 million worth of poultry. The poultry industry employs roughly 5,000 to 6,000 people throughout the country. Of that figure, the vast majority, 2,000 to 3,000 people, are based in the Border counties, including in my area of Monaghan and Cavan. According to the Minister for agriculture, the majority of the poultry in our retail shops is imported. I would like if the Acting Leader could organise for the Minister for agriculture to come into the House so we can have a debate in relation to the beef and poultry sectors and perhaps get a few answers as to why we are importing the quantities of beef and poultry that we are.”
“I thank the Cathaoirleach. Recent data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shows that in 2025 we imported 40,000 tonnes of beef, which is the equivalent of about 118,000 steers, based on average weight. It is a strange statistic really, when we consider that we export seven times more beef than we import. Our largest customer for our beef is the UK. It is ironic that the majority of the 40,000 tonnes of beef we imported last year came from the UK. Farmers are asking what I would claim is a legitimate question: what is going on here? Why are we importing 40,000 tonnes of beef from the UK when that country is our largest customer for beef? Is it to do with price control or what is going on? It is fair to say we need answers in relation to this matter.”
“On behalf of my party I am very happy to support this legislation and I look forward to it passing through the House in a swift manner.”
“These powers are balanced with strong judicial oversight to protect fundamental rights. Overall, this legislation aims to improve the State's ability to disrupt organised crime, seize illicit wealth and return funds to the public in the communities that they are trying to harm. As the Minister outlined, this is reflected in the community safety fund which he announced yesterday. This reinvests recovered money into local projects, with over €4 million allocated this year, which is double the initial funding. I would echo the Minister's words and encourage organisations the length and breadth of the country to apply for this fund. The money is there and can be used in a positive and constructive fashion within our communities. I again thank the Minister for outlining the detail of the Bill.”
“The State's objective, is - and should always be- to deprive criminals of these assets, weaken their influence and protect our communities. Ireland's current model, which is based on civil forfeiture and the specialised work of the Criminal Assets Bureau, has been internationally recognised. However, this Bill introduces key reforms to improve that effectiveness even further. These include reducing the time required to permanently seize assets from seven years to two years and appointing receivers to manage seized assets once they are deemed to be the proceeds of crime. The Bill also proposes to introduce new powers to freeze suspected criminal funds early in an investigation. This includes short-term administrative freezing directions and court-approved freezing orders.”
“As the Minister outlined during his contribution, this legislation aims to strengthen the proceeds of crime laws to more effectively target organised crime and ensure that criminals cannot retain profits from illegal activity. Where criminal convictions are difficult to secure, civil proceedings will continue to be used to seize assets. This strategy has proven successful, with over €220 million denied to criminals by the Criminal Assets Bureau. I would like to pay tribute to the men and women of An Garda Síochána for their fearless work in this particular area and for the work they do on behalf of us all within our communities. Criminals often flaunt their wealth, undermining public confidence and creating the perception that they operate beyond the law.”
“Seizing proceeds - be they money, property or vehicles - from criminal individuals or organisations is central to combating organised crime. Organised crime is driven by money and the harder the State makes it to obtain, launder and keep that money, the weaker these organised groups will be. I welcome that the Department of justice has conducted a detailed examination of this legislation, vitally informed, to my mind, by the CAB and other stakeholders, with their practical, day-to-day experience of the operation of the regime since its inception and by international developments and best practice. Based on this examination, it identified a series of recommendations for immediate change and for further consideration.”