Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of all criminal investigations into the management and operation of the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank, EBS, AIB and Bank of Ireland; the number of arrests that have been made arising therefrom and the grounds for same; the number of persons who have been so arrested and the outcome of these arrests; and in each case when it is expected the investigations will be complete. [14799/12]

Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the State and other resources that are being utilised and are available in the criminal investigations of the mismanagement and reckless operation of the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank, EBS, AIB and Bank of Ireland; and the reason the investigations appear to be taking an inordinate length of time compared to similar investigations in the USA. [14800/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.

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 there are currently 25 Garda personnel engaged in these investigations, comprising sixteen personnel at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, including fifteen Garda investigators and a forensic accountant, as well as nine members of An Garda Síochána seconded to ODCE. All members of An Garda Síochána allocated to such investigations have previous experience in the investigation of fraud related offences, and the investigations are augmented by experienced investigators from ODCE.

The Garda authorities have indicated that to date two investigation files were submitted by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation to the Law Officers in December, 2010. A supplementary file was submitted in May 2011 and a further investigation file was forwarded in October 2011. The files remain under consideration by the Director of Public Prosecutions, and directions are awaited. Following recent developments additional information has been submitted to the Law Officers to allow matters to be considered further. I am also informed that two persons have been arrested in relation to these investigations.

I am further informed that no complaints have been received by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation in relation to the other financial institutions referred to by the Deputy.

I can assure the Deputy that I attach the highest priority to the full investigation of white collar crime and bringing the perpetrators of such crime to justice.

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. The Act is an important step in delivering on the Government's commitment to tackle white collar crime. Its main purpose is to address delays in the prosecution and investigation of complex white collar crime by improving certain important procedural matters and strengthening Garda investigative powers. The Act's provisions are based on the experiences of those involved in investigations and prosecutions of white collar crime, and in particular on the experiences of those involved in the current investigations. It provides new procedures and powers which will speed up both current and future investigations, including investigations into offences in the areas of banking and finance, company law, money laundering, fraud and corruption.

This Government will continue to provide the necessary legislative and administrative supports for investigations within this jurisdiction. I am being briefed on an ongoing basis on the progress of the investigations and am assured that this remains an absolute priority for An Garda Síochána and that there is sufficient personnel and technical expertise available to assist in the various aspects of this ongoing investigation.