Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It appears as if there has not been any urgency on the part of the Government in the pursuit of reckless activity in banks. The information available in the media today clearly indicates attempts by former Anglo Irish Bank employees to obstruct the course of justice and not to give the information regarding the encrypted files that many of them have. This is a situation that has outraged the people of the country, that has left our economy in tatters and is responsible for the disaster about to be inflicted upon the next generation.

Deputy Noonan pointed out in this House on a number of occasions that 50 people have been prosecuted and put behind bars in the United States, yet here in Ireland nothing effectively has happened beyond a further extension of the Director of Corporate Enforcement's remit.

Speaking in the Dáil last month in response to Deputy Shatter, the Minister for Justice and Law Reform said in regard to information being withheld that is owned by the bank that if people are not co-operating, it would be an offence under the law. So it should be and so it is. The Taoiseach owns Anglo Irish Bank. This information in these encrypted files is critical and may be vital in prosecuting people for criminal or illegal activities. I want to know why the Taoiseach has not instructed Anglo Irish Bank to take a civil action and bring these people to court in order that this information can be made available to the public.

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