Ms Derville Rowland:

Thus far, no invocation of the fitness and probity framework has been launched. Fitness and probity can only apply when people remain in the system. If people are not in the system, it cannot be applied. As a result of the significance and importance of this issue, the Deputy might recall that we previously went on the record to state that we had met An Garda Síochána.

We have met other agencies as well to open dialogues because we take very seriously our statutory obligations under section 33AK to report suspicions of criminal offences to other agencies. Matters under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act fall within the purview of An Garda Síochána. We would not necessarily always be experts on the competence or area of investigation of other agencies or investigation of competition matters. We have met other agencies for that reason and because they may have other lines of evidence available that they would not be able to share with us. My colleagues recently met An Garda Síochána and we discussed, at a high level, what we have seen and the fact that we are not making a report, but we indicated that we stand ready to assist the Garda with any information or add to information that it may have. We have made no formal section 33AK reports of suspicions to other relevant agencies but we have met them and shared our information with them to assist them in their considerations.