asked the Minister for Justice if it is proposed to publish the report of the investigation into alleged irregularities on land deals in North County Dublin; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - North County Dublin Land Deals.
6.
The answer is "no". Garda reports on their investigations of crimes or alleged crime are never published. The Garda report in the matter mentioned was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that there was no basis for a prosecution. That ends the matter as far as the Garda are concerned.
Is the Minister aware that members of the Fraud Squad interviewed members of the county council? There must have been a basis for the allegations which prompted the Minister to ask that an investigation be carried out. Is the Minister now saying there was no question of anybody being involved in speculation in this land in the area concerned?
I am satisfied the matter was fully investigated by the Garda. I might say I did not initiate the investigation which was carried out by the Garda. The allegations were investigated in depth, as the Deputy has suggested. The report was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and he decided there was no basis for the bringing of a prosecution.
Did the Minister receive a copy of the report?
I have no direct function with regard to what happens on the basis of a Garda report in regard to a prosecution.
So there is no question of irregularities?
There is no question of there being anything that would form the basis for a prosecution.
Was it not a great pity that the result of this investigation did not receive the same publicity as the original allegations did in the Sunday newspapers?
This often is the way.