Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The appointments were made quite a number of years ago. They were additional directors from outside the bank circle but are bound by company law. Whatever information this particular public interest director has, he is quite willing to talk on it during any investigation or at any committee or inquiry we set up. It is important to remind the Deputy that Mr. Dukes, as he would be well aware, cannot cross over into the independent work ongoing in the context of the preparation for criminal trials in respect of which charges have been preferred against a number of individuals. An inquiry or investigation is one process, but the criminal process is independent of it and operates through the courts where justice is dispensed by a judge and jury. Alan Dukes has already pointed out publicly that the information available on the tapes was transmitted to the Garda and that he will have no difficulty, as a public interest director, in attending Oireachtas committees, inquiries or investigations or whichever option the Government decides to follow in due course.

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