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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has received government approval to appoint the independent chair and 6 ordinary members to a newly established Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption.
The establishment of an Advisory Council was one of the recommendations made in the Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption. The review, colloquially known as the Hamilton Review, was led by James Hamilton, the former Director of Public Prosecutions.
Minister McEntee is now very pleased to announce that Mr Hamilton will also take up the role of independent chair of the new Council.
The Council will advise and make proposals on strategic and policy responses and will be responsible for developing a multi-annual strategy to combat economic crime and corruption.
The Strategy will be accompanied by an action plan. The Strategy and Action Plan, which will then be finalised by the Minister for Justice, will be submitted to Government for approval, with implementation of the actions ensuring that Ireland has the tools to vigorously tackle white collar criminals and corruption.
The Council will also serve as an Irish ‘centre of excellence’, one which coordinates research and analysis, training, public education and awareness-raising, and promotes best practice.
It will engage and consult with international agencies and bodies, and monitor emerging trends around the world, to ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of international efforts to tackle economic crime and corruption.
Building on its own composition as a body comprised from both the public and private sector, it will also promote and advise on enhanced co-operation and information-sharing within and between the public and private sectors.
Minister McEntee said:
"We must ensure that we have the tools, policies and strategies to tackle economic crime and corruption. Ireland must also be at the forefront of international efforts to tackle and vigorously pursue criminals who undermine confidence in our economic system and damage economies themselves.
"That’s why I am pleased to announce the government’s approval to formally establish the Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption and to nominate the chair and a number of members to the Council.
"The council’s independent chair, James Hamilton, has already provided the State with many years of service through his years as Director of Public Prosecutions and more recently his chairmanship of the group which carried out the Review into Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption.
"I am confident that he and the council will provide outstanding advice and guidance to the government, as well as across the Irish economy and society, on how we can tackle white collar crime and corruption."
The Advisory Council will have 19 members plus the Chair. 13 members will represent the relevant government departments, enforcement and regulatory agencies from across the public sector.
The remaining 6 ordinary members, nominated by Minister McEntee, will represent the business and financial sector, academia, and civil society.
The Minister’s nominations follow a selection process which first sought expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates. Following the call for expressions of interest, a short-listing exercise was carried out by the Department of Justice. Those nominated to the Council are:
Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption
The establishment of the Advisory Council against Economic Crime and Corruption was one of the recommendations made in the Review of Structures and Strategies to Prevent, Investigate and Penalise Economic Crime and Corruption. The review was led by James Hamilton, the former Director of Public Prosecutions.
The remit of the Council is to advise and make proposals to Government on strategic and policy responses to economic crime and corruption, and a primary task for the Council will be to develop a multi-annual strategy to combat economic crime and corruption and an accompanying action plan.
A Forum of senior representatives from the relevant operational bodies was previously established on a formal and permanent basis to facilitate greater inter-agency co-ordination, collaboration and information-sharing among operational agencies.
Details of the main duties of the appointed Chairperson and ordinary members are set out in the application booklet.
The term of appointment of the Chairperson is 4 years, renewable once, and the membership term for ordinary members is 3 years.
The following are the fees payable to the Chairperson and ordinary members of the Council:
Travel and subsistence reimbursement in accordance with rates published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform from time to time for the civil service will be provided for essential travel.
(a) To develop a set of procedures, including those relating to its operation, meetings and reporting.
(b) To determine the scope of topics comprising ‘economic crime and corruption’ and define the terminology associated with each.
(c) To develop, in consultation with the Economic Crime and Corruption Forum, a draft multi-annual strategy for combatting economic crime and corruption, together with an accompanying action plan, and to submit them to the Minister for consideration. The Minister will subsequently bring the final strategy and action plan to Government for approval.
(d) To report on progress periodically to the Minister.
(e) To measure the implementation of the strategy and action plan through periodic evaluations that monitor the delivery and effectiveness of legislative, policy and operational initiatives contained therein.
(f) To provide strategic leadership through serving as a ‘centre of excellence’, one which coordinates research and analysis, training, public education and awareness-raising, and promotes best practice.
(g) To engage and consult with international agencies and bodies, as well as relevant authorities in other jurisdictions where appropriate, in relation to transnational developments and in relation to Ireland’s adherence to relevant international conventions, recognising that the ability of certain members to share information will be subject to confidentiality and professional secrecy obligations, both at national and EU level.
(h) To make evidence-based proposals and recommendations to Government arising from emerging trends and national/international developments to address economic crime and corruption.
(i) To assess the levels of resourcing and expertise or experience in relevant bodies and, where appropriate, make recommendations for additional resources and/or expertise to be pursued through existing mechanisms.
(j) To promote and to advise stakeholders on enhanced co-operation and information-sharing within and between the public and private sectors.
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed 12 months after the Council is established at the latest, and at regular intervals afterwards.