Jim O'Keeffe
Question:196 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the potential legal and constitutional issues, if any, associated with establishing an operationally viable system to deal with dormant bank accounts. [7033/98]
Written Answers. - Dormant Bank Accounts.
The Deputy will recall that, in response to a parliamentary question tabled by him on 3 March 1998, I outlined the position in relation to the examination undertaken by officials in my Department on the general issue of dormant accounts held in credit institutions. That investigation identified, amongst other things, potential legal and constitutional issues associated with establishing a system for dealing with such accounts. This is a very complex issue and one which requires very careful consideration. Without getting into specifics, the type of areas affected by the establishment of such a scheme would include that of property rights generally.
I have advised the Deputy that I will investigate this matter further during my term of office. In the meantime, I am not prepared to release any of the results of my officials' examinations.