Naomi Long

The commencement in Northern Ireland of all outstanding provisions of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 is one of her “key priorities”, she said.

The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) called for the move last November in a report which said the additional powers would help law enforcement tackle paramilitarism and organised crime.

Last August, a woman from Northern Ireland but living in London was served with an unexplained wealth order by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

London lawyer Jonah Anderson, originally from Northern Ireland, said at the time that the orders would likely be used increasingly often in connection with paramilitary-related investigations.

Officials in the Department of Justice have started work to support commencement of the outstanding provisions of the 2017 Act.

Answering a written question in Stormont, Ms Long said: “This will involve a complex programme of work, covering the production of Codes of Practice, Court Rules and secondary legislation, some of which will need to be made at Westminster.

“My officials are working with their counterparts in the Home Office to deliver these. Subject to Home Office timescales I am hopeful that these powers will be available for law enforcement within Northern Ireland in October of this year.”