asked the Minister for Justice whether investigations by the Garda authorities into a company (details supplied) have been completed; and if so, if he will state the result of the investigations; the manner in which investigations into the firm were conducted; the number of people interviewed; the different parts of the country that they were from; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Investigation of Company.
74.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that reports on the investigations in question were referred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions who advised that grounds for prosecution had not been established.
It would not be in accordance with normal practice or appropriate for me to provide detailed information about the way in which a Garda investigation was carried out. Some information as to how the Garda were proceeding in their inquiries in this case was provided by my predecessor in reply to the Deputy's question on the subject on 26 January 1984, but what was then at issue was information designed to help any potential complainants who might wish to contact the Garda. In general terms, however, I can confirm that Garda inquiries extended over quite a wide area and that persons who were believed to be in a position to supply useful information and who were willing to do so were interviewed and invited to make statements.
I might add that the nature of complaints of this kind is such that investigations are not necessarily finalised at any particular point and the Garda are always willing to examine any new evidence that may be made available to them. It is therefore open to the Deputy or to anybody who has any statement — or any further statement — to give to the Garda to do so even at this stage.