Vol. 434 No. 6
79 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice if an investigation has been held into allegations that visas for Chinese people seeking entry to this country were made available for financial gain; if her attention has been drawn to newspaper allegations of involvement by Chinese Triad gangs in this racket; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that an investigation was conducted by a senior Garda officer into allegations made involving gardaí in the Aliens Registration Office, Harcourt Square and resulted in a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who directed that no charges be preferred. The Garda authorities have informed me that the investigation did not disclose any evidence that visas for persons seeking entry to the country were being sold for financial gain or that there was any involvement by organised criminal gangs in obtaining visas. Following certain actions taken by the Garda Commissioner arising out of the investigation, civil court proceedings were initiated by a number of persons which have not been finalised to date. In those circumstances, I do not propose to comment further in the matter.
