John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Garda personnel involved in the investigation into Anglo Irish Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6573/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the investigations into Anglo Irish Bank by An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) are ongoing with a full Investigation team employed at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. I am further informed that 26 members of An Garda Síochána are engaged in these investigations, comprising fifteen personnel at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, including fourteen Garda investigators and a forensic accountant as well as eleven members of An Garda Síochána seconded to ODCE.

The detailed deployment of Garda personnel is a matter for Garda management who inform me that they are satisfied there is sufficient personnel and technical expertise available to assist in the various aspects of ongoing investigations. I can assure the Deputy that this Government will continue to provide the necessary legislative and administrative supports for the investigations and that I attach the highest priority to the full investigation of white collar crime and bringing the perpetrators of such crime to justice. In particular, on taking office, this Government gave priority to satisfying itself that the necessary resources both personnel and legal were available to the investigation. Within eight weeks of taking up office, I moved urgently to draft and seek Government approval to the introduction of additional legislation. This new legislation, the Criminal Justice Act, 2011, was enacted on 2 August.

In the light of some misleading comments which have been made publicly, it is important that I make one point very clear: I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that this investigation remains an absolute priority for An Garda Síochána, there has been no question of personnel changes being allowed to hamper in any way the investigation, nor will there be.