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The Department of Justice and Equality has today, on behalf of the Review Group on Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Measures, invited submissions from interested parties on Ireland’s anti-corruption and anti-fraud structures and procedures in criminal law enforcement. 

The review will assess the extent to which the various State bodies involved in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of fraud and corruption are working effectively together, and identify any gaps or impediments in this regard.  

Specifically, the group welcomes submissions on any of the following matters encompassed in its Terms of Reference:

• To identify the scope and extent of the structures and strategies within An Garda Síochána and other relevant agencies to prevent, investigate and penalise fraud and corruption and identify what gaps exist, by reference to international standards.
• To recommend options or potential solutions to any gaps or deficits identified during the analysis (e.g. whether a stand-alone anti-fraud/anti-corruption agency should be established, or improved cross-agency working/secondments, or thematic time bound joint-agency task forces set up as required).
• To review the extent of potential cross-over of any new structure with the evolving role of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the work of the Cost of Insurance Working Group, and make recommendations to minimise risk of duplication.
• To review the adequacy of the legal basis for sharing of information/evidence between relevant bodies (national and international) necessary to tackle fraud and corruption, and make recommendations for any areas where additional legislation may be required.
• To assess the levels of resourcing and expertise or experience in relevant bodies and make any relevant recommendations. 

Interested parties are invited to make submissions to AFACstructuresreview@justice.ie by 5pm on Friday April 19 2019. 

Further information is available at http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/WP15000529 

Note for Editors: 

The Review Group on Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Measures has been established as part of a suite of measures published by Government in November 2017 aimed at enhancing corporate governance, increasing transparency and strengthening Ireland’s response to White Collar Crime. 

In 2018, the Minister for Justice and Equality appointed Mr James Hamilton, former Director of Public Prosecutions and anti-corruption expert, to chair the review.  The review group, which comprises a range of relevant Government Departments, State agencies and other experts, held its first meeting in September 2018 and has been asked to report back to the Minister by summer 2019 with its findings and recommendations.