As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person's assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
Under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible for the management and control of the administration and business of the Criminal Assets Bureau, including the staffing of the Bureau. Under the Act, the Chief Bureau Officer is responsible to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána for these functions. As Minister for Justice I have no direct role in these functions, nor can I comment on them.
I am advised by the Bureau that the below table outlines the number of Forensic Accountants employed by the CAB for each of the past five years. The most recent Financial Accountant was appointed to the Bureau in August 2021. This completes the Bureau’s compliment of Forensics Accountants at this point in time. Staffing levels and resources are kept under constant review and will be revised as necessary.
2017
|
2
|
2018
|
3*
|
2019
|
3*
|
2020
|
3*
|
2021
|
4*
|
* 1 x Forensic Accountant is on 0.8 FTE (Full Time Equivalent)