Anti-Corruption Agencies from across Europe meet for Annual Conference in Dublin

2 Nov 2023

Pan-European Anti-Corruption network European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) is holding its 22nd Annual Conference on 2-3 November in Croke Park. Conference opened this morning by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. Irish members of the network include the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), the Policing Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Garda Inspectorate. Themes to be discussed over two-day conference include protecting and promoting whistleblowing, tackling abuse of power for sexual gain, combatting fraud, and the challenges of digital evidence management.

This is a closed conference. Photographs from the event’s opening by Minister McEntee will be filed to photo desks. Communications details of Irish member organisations and the Department of Justice are provided below. See editors’ note for detail on the conference agenda.

 

Thursday 2 November 2023

 

The 22nd conference of the pan-European network of anti-corruption agencies, European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC), has opened today, Thursday 2 November, in Dublin’s Croke Park.

The two-day conference brings together anti-corruption agencies from a dozen European jurisdictions to explore the challenges and opportunities of tackling corruption in the 21st Century. The conference will explore a wide range of themes, including the promotion and protection of whistleblowing, tackling the abuse of power for sexual gain, investigating and prosecuting fraud, and the challenges of securing and analysing digital evidence. Irish members of the EPAC network include the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC), the Policing Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Garda Inspectorate. The network has recently expanded to include anti-corruption agencies from Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine.

The conference was opened this morning by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD. Minister McEntee said:

 

“I am delighted to speak at the 22nd conference of the pan-European network of anti-corruption agencies, European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC), and I would like to sincerely welcome all of the representatives to Dublin.

Corruption, in all its forms, damages our society. It breeds cynicism and distrust towards democracy, it makes government less effective and wastes public resources. It provides the conditions for organised crime and other security threats to grow. We have undertaken an ambitious programme of reform over the last number of years and this has yielded results, both in public perception, and on the ground. That progress is evidenced by Ireland’s strong ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

While I welcome the significant progress that has been made, it is important to acknowledge that more work remains to be done in the fight against corruption. All individuals, including government officials and institutions, must be subject to and accountable to the full rigours of the law. If not, we will allow corruption to damage trust in democracy and open societies and deter investment.”

 

GSOC Commissioner and EPAC Vice President Hugh Hume said:

 

“The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and our fellow Irish agencies and Departmental colleagues are delighted to host this year’s EPAC conference, and to welcome our sister agencies from across Europe here to Dublin. Combatting corruption, whether it occurs in law enforcement, finance, or public administration, poses an ever-shifting set of challenges to those of us charged with the task. Our perspective on corruption in the 21st century is a broader one, bringing us beyond just the financial, encompassing the crime of abuse of power for sexual gain – something that has, thankfully, become the focus of increased policy and legislative measures here in Ireland, including in the new Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. We also face a host of complex challenges in this digital age in how we detect, store and analyse evidence of fraud and corruption. I look forward to joining our international colleagues today to unpack some of these challenges, and share our learning and expertise.”

 

Helen Hall, Chief Executive of the Policing Authority said:

 

“The Policing Authority is delighted to be a member of the EPAC since 2018 and welcomes delegates from anti-corruption authorities and police oversight bodies from across Europe. A key aspect of the Authority’s current Strategy is policing integrity and human rights.  Events such as this conference serve to highlight the importance of co-operation between anti-corruption agencies and police oversight bodies and to share good practice.  Such co-operation encourages ethical policing that vindicates the human rights of all who engage with police services.”

 

Mark Toland, Chief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate said:

“The Garda Inspectorate are delighted to be part of this prestigious event and we warmly welcome all of the delegates who are coming together with a common purpose of tackling corruption. Following the publication of our 2020 inspection report, Countering the Threat of Internal Corruption, the Department of Justice and the Garda Síochána agreed and published a joint implementation plan.  Hosting this conference shows the continued commitment in Ireland to tackling corruption at all levels”.

 

An Garda Síochána Deputy Commissioner Strategy, Governance and Performance, Shawna Coxon said:

“An Garda Síochána is pleased to be a part of the 2023 European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) conference. This event brings together anti-corruption agencies from across Europe and we wish a warm fáilte to our partners as we come together in Ireland on this important issue of tackling corruption.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Photographs of the Minister’s speech, and shots of the Minister with conference delegates, will be filed to photo desks.

This conference is a closed discussion forum for EPAC Member Agencies and their guests. Some excerpts from the conference will be published on social media during the conference. The Minister’s opening remarks will also be made available to media by the Minister’s Office.

The conference has been co-hosted and co-organised by Irish EPAC members the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, the Policing Authority, the Garda Inspectorate and An Garda Síochána, with the support of the Department of Justice. Media contacts for these organisations are:

 

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC):

                communications@gsoc.ie

Tel: (01)  8716721

Policing Authority:

pressoffice@policingauthority.ie

Tel: (01) 8589090 / (087)6319751

Garda Inspectorate:

CXCass@gsinsp.ie

Tel: +353 (1) 4086512

Department of Justice:

pressoffice@justice.ie

An Garda Síochána:

pressoffice@garda.ie

 

THE CONFERENCE AGENDA

The conference is split across four broad themes:

  • Whistleblowing, including contributions from:
    • The Hon. Justice Peter Charleton
    • Transparency International Ireland
    • The Italian Anti-Corruption Authority
    • Dutch Whistleblowers Authority
    • GSOC
    • INTERPOL
    • The Policing Authority
  • Gender-Based Violence and Corruption, including contributions from:
    • The Hon. Ms. Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon
    • An Garda Síochána
    • UK College of Policing
  • Investigating and Prosecuting Fraud, including contributions from:
    • Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania
    • Garda National Economic Crime Bureau
    • An Garda Síochána
    • The Policing Authority
  • Emerging Issues and New Approaches in Corruption Investigation and Police Oversight (Digital evidence)
    • Office for the Fight against Corruption and Financial and Tax Offences (France)
    • Financial Crime Team EFECC-OPERATIONS, EUROPOL
    • GSOC
    • OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office

 

ABOUT EUROPEAN PARTNERS AGAINST CORRUPTION (EPAC)

 

For more information visit the EPAC/EACN website www.epac-eacn.org

The European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) are independent forums for practitioners, united in the common goal of preventing and combating corruption.

The European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN) are independent forums for practitioners, united in the common goal of preventing and combating corruption.

EPAC/EACN provide a platform for practitioners to exchange expertise and information in the sphere of anti-corruption and police oversight, assist each other, and advocate the implementation of international legal instruments.

In all matters, the networks observe the standards of independence, impartiality, legitimacy, accountability, transparency and accessibility. EPAC/EACN have a strong commitment to promoting effective systems of policing and anti-corruption work, which adhere to ethical standards and ensure respect for the rule of law and human rights.

Every year, EPAC/EACN hold a professional conference and likewise have a variety of working groups operating throughout the year. English is EPAC/EACN’s only official language. Finances are based on voluntary contributions from members, observers, official international programmes, and other sources.