REPRESENTATIVES of all parties and Independents welcomed the anti crime measures passed by the Dail on Thursday when they were discussed in the Seanad yesterday.
Its deputy leader, Mr Dan Neville (FG), said the measures introduced by the Minister for Justice would dramatically improve the chances of jailing wealthy criminals, including drug barons, who could not be touched up to now.
"The place to hit the untouchable super criminal is in his pocket," he said. "Deprive him of the proceeds of his work. Stop the excesses. Take away their ill gotten millions. Eliminate their lavish lifestyles."
He was speaking on the Proceeds of Crime Bill which will enable the courts to "freeze" the assets of suspected criminals and allow them to be confiscated unless it can be shown they were honestly acquired.
Mr Michael Mulcahy (FF) said Fianna Fail had sponsored the Bill as no one should be untouchable if they engage in crime. The Bill introduced concepts from civil law into the fight against crime and that was a welcome development.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said the Bill was necessary to protect the common good. "Liberties are going to be constrained. I regret that but I accept it. People who came by their assets honestly had nothing to fear.
Mr John Dardis (PD) said without these new measures there would be an increase in "vigilanteism" and a move down the road to ruin.
Mr David Norris (Ind) said the Bill was the result of co-operation between the parties. He regretted the "infantile level" of some of the Dail debate. The people outside were not interested in partisan political advantage on the crime issue.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, said the Bill provided a mechanism under which the unacceptable phenomenon of people acquiring significant wealth through crime could be dealt. The most significant change brought about by amendments at committee stage was to apply the Bill to the proceeds of all crime and not confine it to a number of offences.
Mrs Owen declined to accept an amendment from the Progressive Democrats which would allow any proceeds from the sale of criminally held assets to be spent on providing community facilities in the areas most ravaged by crime. It was supported by Mr Norris and by Dr Mary Henry (Ind).
The House also passed the Disclosure of Certain Information for Taxation and Other Purposes Bill which will allow for freer exchange of information between the Garda, Revenue and the Department of Social Welfare. It also allows for a ministerial order to be made obliging solicitors, accountants and estate agents to report "suspicious" transactions by clients.
The Minister of State, Ms Joan Burton (for the Minister for Finance), said the Bill would implement important legal changes recommended by the working group of the Garda and a number of Government Departments to help in the fight against organised crime.
Mr Dick Roche (FF) said he hoped the courts would not end up putting their own "bizarre interpretation" on the Bill and defeat its purpose.
Mr Tom Enright (FG) said we should not be pushed by the drug barons into destroying the traditional confidentiality between professionals, such as solicitors, and accountants and their clients. The power being provided in the Bill should be sparingly used.