THE Government's attempts to, combat organised crime were given a boost in the Seanad yesterday when the House passed the Criminal Assets Bureau Bill. The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, said that the bureau, which had been operating on a non statutory basis so far, would now be able to swing fully into action.
The Minister pointed out that the bureau's purpose was to take decisive action against professional criminals and drug barons. It was vital that it had a firm statutory backing, using all the powers at its disposal - under the new legislation. The three key agencies, Revenue, Social Welfare and the Garda, were committed to the success of the bureau and to a concerted effort to deliver on the Government's anti crime measures.
"There has been no lack of commitment in the past, but the difficulties which have arisen from different agencies tackling the problem within their own functional remit and in accordance with existing legislation had become apparent. Nothing less than a fully co ordinated approach by the bureau will work", Mr Quinn added.