The model of the Criminal Assets Bureau, modified to meet local conditions, could be copied successfully across the EU as part of the fight against international organised crime, according to the Minister for Justice. Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Correspondent, reports.
Mr McDowell was opening an international conference on international crime yesterday, organised by the Department of Justice and the Netherlands Centre for International Police Co-operation.
The event brings together police and criminal justice organisations from across the EU.
The Minister told journalists that international organised crime needed to be distinguished from local criminal gangs. He said the FBI estimated that global organised crime reaped profits of close to $1 trillion.
"I do not believe that any one arm of the State or any one element of society can, on its own, effectively tackle highly organised criminal groups.
"Just as governments, law enforcement agencies and society are striving to build links to counteract the activities of organised crime groups, these groups are themselves forging alliances within and across boundaries to carry on their activities and, of course, to launder the huge sums of money their criminal activities generate," the Minister said.
Legislation which would give effect to EU anti-crime measures was being introduced, and the Irish Government was going to ratify the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, he said.
This contained quite strong proposals, including denying criminal groups access to legal businesses and markets.
International crime undermined competitiveness and caused profit losses, and this was of concern to the private sector, which should be involved in helping national agencies and the international community to identify trends, he added.