Ms Eadaoin Collins:

It would be important to point out that this particular investigation took place between 2008 and 2012. To address the Chairman's specific question, we have had quite a number of changes in staff personnel. The current director came in in 2012. A huge amount of reform has taken place in the ODCE in recent years. Speaking to the specialist recruitment, eight forensic accountants were recruited of whom seven are in place now in addition to two enforcement portfolio managers, two enforcement lawyers and a digital forensic specialist. These are the new specialist cohort of staff to complement the existing staff within the office and bring a wealth of new skills. There has been two very specific cohorts of training in the area of witness statements.

It is fully accepted that the standard of investigation was below par with the particular investigation to which we are referring. The deficiencies were addressed in the skills available to the office and the depth of experience available. Those issues have been addressed as well as the training in the collection of witness statements. In addition to the new staff, procedural reform has taken place in that every witness taking statement will be led by a garda. That is critical for the standards required for a criminal investigation. It is something that should have happened previously but that is happening now.