Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the times that information has been shared in relation to potential tax or corporate law transgressions between the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Revenue Commissioners; the nature of the information passed, for each instance; the agency which initiated the information exchange; if successful actions were taken on the basis of that information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25176/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) is required by law to keep confidential commercially sensitive information, which it obtains in the course of its work. However, the law also provides for the sharing of information between the ODCE and certain other regulatory authorities where the information is relevant to the remit of the regulatory authority. It also provides for the receipt by the ODCE of relevant information from certain regulatory authorities.

The ODCE has concluded formal arrangements on mutual co-operation and information sharing with a number of relevant authorities, including the Revenue Commissioners. I understand that these arrangements are working well and are proving mutually beneficial.

I am not in a position to comment on the detail of any exchanges of information between the ODCE and other regulatory authorities, including the Revenue Commissioners. Such matters are day-to-day matters for the ODCE and relevant authorities, for which I do not have responsibility. However, I would refer the Deputy to page 12 of the Annual Report 2005 of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, in which the Director reports on activity in this area under the heading, Cooperation between Regulatory Authorities.