Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said he would study the Supreme Court ruling before deciding whether or not to make any legislative changes.
Rejecting suggestions that the ruling was a set-back in the battle against organised crime, Mr McDowell said: "It's not a bad day for the State ever if the law is clarified or upheld.
"If there are any changes needed to the law in the light of this decision, they will be studied and if necessary they will be made." But, he said: "The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) is there in any event, regardless of whether people are convicted of offences or not, to track down and bring into public control the proceeds of crime."
He noted the Cab was already doing "a fantastic job" in this regard.