The Government is to enact legislation to recover money obtained corruptly, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern said today.
|
|
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern
|
In a statement after the publication of the Flood tribunal's second interim report Mr Ahern said a Corruption Assets Bureau is to be established "which will recover assets corruptly obtained and to recover any increase in the value of an asset that has been obtained through corruption".
"Those who benefit from corrupting public officials and those holding elective office must, in addition to criminal sanctions, be held financially accountable.
"Such persons must be hit where it hurts most - in their pockets.
"Proceeds obtained through this legislation will be paid to the exchequer and held for the benefit of those who have suffered - the Irish people.
"Those who act improperly and illegally while engaged in public life can be assured that their actions will be exposed and the law enforced against them," Mr Ahern said.
Earlier, Mr Ahern conceded the Flood tribunal report was a damning indictment of Mr Ray Burke.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Ballacolla, Co Laois, he said he regretted appointing Mr Burke as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1997.
Mr Ahern said he had not been in a position to properly investigate the activities of the former minister. "I did not have the power of disclosure the power of getting documents and sworn statements and papers," he said.
He said he was not in the least embarrassed about the details contained in the report but was instead delighted that "we've got to the bottom of it".
Mr Ahern congratulated Mr Justice Flood on five years of hard work.
"There is no doubt that there are very serious offences and the various agencies will have to look at that," he said, adding he would issue a detailed statement later in the day.