Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

My party tabled a question similar to this more than two months ago and received an answer that was virtually identical, except for the completion of the investigations under section 19. The three investigations under section 19 which were expected to be completed by mid-2004 are still ongoing.

Does the Tánaiste agree there is a legitimate public expectation that the investigations will come to some conclusions and that there will be accountability on foot of them? Does she agree that there is a lack of confidence in the outcome of these investigations and that the only people being enriched from the process are the lawyers? When will these matters come to a conclusion? Why has nothing happened in the past two months other than the extension of the timeframe for the investigations under section 19? Was the commitment given by the Minister for Finance at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis on 6 March 2004 to bring in specific measures to reduce the costs of these inquiries all guff? Are there specific proposals? Will the Tánaiste propose specific measure that will retain public confidence in the supervision of company policy and law and a mechanism that will hold people to account?

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