Bureau will fight bribe culture

REELING from the Flood Tribunal report fallout, the Government announced details yesterday of a new political watchdog with the power to seize money received as bribes.

Amid criticism of its failure to clampdown on politicians taking cash for favours, the Government rushed to repeat the details of the Corruption Assets Bureau. With sweeping new powers, the Bureau will crack down on white-collar and political crime.

The Bureau was promised by the Taoiseach in his Ard Fheis speech back in March and again in the general election campaign. Yet no action has been taken yet in setting up the Bureau and it is not yet clear when it will be up and running. Last night a government spokesperson said the Bureau will be prioritised for legislation.

According to the Government's promises, the Bureau will be well resourced and more powerful than the existing Criminal Assets Bureau. The aim of the Bureau will be to retrieve money, so it will hopefully pay for itself, a government spokesperson said.

Government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin said the Corruption Assets Bureau will be a statutory body specifically dedicated to tracing and recovering the proceeds of corruption.

"It will have five important new powers which are not contained in any existing legislation," she said.

The new body will have the power to seize property enhanced in value through corruption. The new laws will close off the loophole stating that gardaí cannot use evidence emerging from tribunals to seize assets.

The laws will allow a Garda Chief Superintendent to form an opinion based on a tribunal report, whether the tribunal reported before or after the passing of the legislation.

The High Court can also appoint inspectors to the affairs of a company or individual to trace corrupt assets. The court will also be allowed to adjust the value of assets corruptly obtained into current-day values.

"For example, if a person corruptly received 1,000 in 1960 and bought a house with that money the High Court will be entitled to order that the current day value of the house be frozen or forfeited," the government statement said.

A key element of the Bureau is a section believed aimed at property developers who bribe politicians to have land rezoned. The bureau will be able to seize all the land that had its value increased by corrupt actions.

The proceeds of corruption obtained through the Corruption Assets Bureau will be put back into the exchequer coffers.

"In this way we will restore the benefits wrongly taken from the Irish people through corruption of those engaged in public service or holding elected office," the Government said.