Ahern plans to strengthen law on white-collar crime
Mr Ahern said he wants a “rigorous focus on white-collar crime” to involve detecting it, deterring it and bringing to justice those who perpetrate it.
He said he would also be enacting a new, consolidated Corruption Bill and producing “a broad and comprehensive” white paper consultation on white-collar crime.
“Any renewed prosperity must also bring with it reformed systems, strong laws and regulations to ensure that it is just not possible to play fast and loose with the economic and financial system,” the minister said at the annual Law Society dinner last night. Mr Ahern said he would bring proposals to Government for the preparation of a consolidated Corruption Bill, gathering all anti-corruption measures together in a single statute.
“In my view the number and variety of laws dealing with corruption matters on the statute book is unsatisfactory and understandably confusing for many people.
“I want to make the law clearer, easier to access and where necessary, tougher, in this area,” he said.
Mr Ahern said the Corruption Bill currently before the Oireachtas will provide blanket protection for whistle-blowers reporting suspected corruption.
“It will provide protection to any person, in any sector, reporting suspicions of corruption in good faith,” he said.
