Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important to say that this matter is before the courts. We need to respect that ongoing process. I am bearing that in mind with regard to what I say here. I am very confident in regard to the work done by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. It is an independent agency and it acts independently of my Department. It is the function of my Department to provide the necessary funding. We have increased its funding over the last number of years to enable it to employ more specialised people, such as forensic accountants, and the people it needs to carry out the work more effectively.

With regard to indemnity, it is absolutely the case that any public servant who acts properly and in accordance with his or her mandate, and who does not breach any laws or ethical principles, is indemnified by the State. This point was made by the Taoiseach in the Dáil yesterday. We resource the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and we have increased the resources over the last number of years. It is very much strengthened compared to where it was, and I am satisfied that it acts independently and it carries out its work in a proper way.

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