Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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490. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the banking enquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18567/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I note that the correspondence referred to by the Deputy was addressed to the Minister for Finance and was subsequently referred onwards to my Department. The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has no role in the investigation or prosecution of offences. In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that criminal investigations into the actions of Anglo Irish Bank and its Directors have been ongoing by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation since 2009. A number of Garda investigation files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and in July 2012, following her directions, three persons were charged with several breaches of the Companies Act 1990. They are each remanded on continuing bail with a trial date having been set for January 2014.

Separately, in December 2012 one of the persons referred to was arrested and charged by Garda Officers from the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement with further breaches of the Companies Act, 1990 and is currently before the Courts in this regard. The investigation into these matters is ongoing and a number of files submitted by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and the Director of Corporate Enforcement remain with the Director of Public Prosecutions awaiting her direction.

I share the widespread concern that clarity be brought to these crucial matters as soon as possible, however, what is important now is that nothing be said which would in any way risk the possibility of prejudicing any criminal proceedings.