Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inquiries in respect of any tribunal of inquiry, commission of inquiry or investigation for which he or his Department have or have had responsibility since 1997; the name of each inquiry; the terms of reference of each inquiry; the cost of each inquiry including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; the dates of each inquiry including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32424/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In so far as the question relates to company law inquiries, I would refer the Deputy to the tables below which set out summary details of all company law investigations, for which my Department has had responsibility, since 1997.

Sixteen investigations into company law matters were initiated by my predecessor in the period since 1997. In three cases, the High Court appointed, on an application by the Minister, inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act 1990. The Inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their Report to the High Court on 10 June 2002. The Inspectors appointed to National Irish Bank Ltd and National Irish Bank Financial Services Ltd presented their Report to the High Court on 12 July 2004.

One investigation under section 14 of the Companies Act 1990 was completed in 1998 and the report was referred to the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

One investigation was undertaken under section 59 of the Insurance Act 1989. The report on this was referred to the DPP as well as to the Inspectors who undertook the section 8 investigation into that company.

Eleven investigations were initiated by the Minister under section 19 of the Companies Act 1990. Six of these have been concluded.

Two of the eleven Section 19 investigations were held up in legal appeals, to such extent that no effective progress was made by the authorised officer and the matter of reports of the examinations did not arise. These enquiries are now the responsibility of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

In relation to the three remaining Section 19 examinations, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 11278 of 23 March 2006. The Authorised Officer is continuing to provide information and assistance to relevant authorities, as outlined in that reply.

Table of Investigations under Section 12, 14 & 19 of the Companies Act 1990

The table outlines the costs incurred by the Exchequer on company investigations commenced since 1995, up to and including 31 December 2004. The costs do not include the salary cost of civil service staff working on or who have worked on these investigations or the legal costs relating to a number of these investigations that were borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

Table of Investigations initiated by the Minister under Section 8 of the Companies Act 1990.

The cost of the investigations by Inspectors appointed by the High Court are defrayed in the first instance by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, the High Court has discretion to direct that either (a) a body corporate dealt with in the inspector's report or (b) the applicant(s) for the investigation shall be liable to repay the relevant Minister, and the extent to which they are liable.

Table of Investigations initiated by the Minister under Insurance Legislation