Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the costs incurred by the State, at the latest date for which figures are available, arising from the various inquiries instigated by or on behalf of his Department; the element of these costs which have been recovered from any of the other parties involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6165/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 56 together.

A total of 16 investigations into company law matters were initiated by my predecessor from 1997 onwards. The High Court appointed, on an application by the Minister, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990 in three cases. The inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their report to the High Court on 10 June 2002 and it was subsequently published and referred to the DPP. The inspectors appointed to National Irish Bank Ltd and National Irish Bank Financial Services Limited presented their report to the High Court on 12 July 2004 and it was subsequently published. The court ordered that a copy of the report should be referred to several relevant authorities, including the DPP.

One investigation under section 14 of the Companies Act 1990 was completed in 1998, the report on which was referred to the DPP. One investigation was undertaken under section 59 of the Insurance Act 1989, the report on which was referred to the DPP as well as to the inspectors who undertook the section 8 investigation into that company.

A total of 11 investigations were initiated by the Minister under section 19 of the Companies Act 1990, six of which have been concluded. Of the six investigations completed, two of the reports were referred to the DPP. A number of summary prosecutions have since been successfully concluded in one case. One report provided an input into the successful application to the High Court for the appointment of inspectors under section 8 while the fourth report was passed to the relevant High Court inspectors. One report was completed in September 2002 and a further report was completed in March 2003. Both reports have been referred to the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Two of the 11 section 19 investigations were held up in legal appeals. These inquiries are the responsibility of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

With regard to the three remaining section 19 investigations, the authorised officer was directed by my predecessor to cease investigative work and to commence writing up his reports with a view to facilitating appropriate follow-up action as soon as possible by the relevant authorities. I recently received a briefing note on the up-to-date position on the section 19 investigations from the authorised officer. I am considering that with the object of ensuring the reports of the authorised officer on his investigations into the three companies are completed by him as soon as possible and that they are made available to the relevant authorities for any action they consider appropriate.

The costs incurred since 1997 on company investigations initiated by or on behalf of my Department amount to approximately €10.9 million. This amount does not include the salaries of Civil Service staff working on a number of these investigations or the legal costs, which are primarily being borne by the Vote of the Chief State Solicitor. Of the €10.9 million expended, €1.6 million relates to section 19 investigations by authorised officers and the remaining €9.3 million was incurred by High Court inspectors appointed under section 8 —€5.8 million in the case of National Irish Bank Limited/National Irish Bank Financial Services Limited and €3.5 million in the case of Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited.

The question of recovering costs from the section 8 investigations does not arise until such time as the inspectors complete their investigations. The High Court proceedings taken by the State to recover the costs of the Ansbacher inquiry were settled out of court for the sum of €1.25 million in favour of the State. With regard to National Irish Bank Limited-National Irish Bank Financial Services Limited, the court ordered that National Irish Bank should pay the full costs of the investigation. The costs of the investigation have been borne by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department has requested the Chief State Solicitor's office to commence the process of recovering the full costs of the investigations from the bank. Section 19, as originally enacted, did not provide for the recoupment of costs. It was amended through the enactment of the Company Law Enforcement Act 2001.