Vol. 497 No. 7
84 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date by the officer appointed under section 19 of the Companies Act, 1990, to investigate a number of companies arising from the Ansbacher account disclosures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26176/98]
I refer the Deputy to my previous answer on 3 November 1998 [Official Report, volume 495, No. 7, col. 1522]. Since I last replied on this matter, the authorised officer and his staff have continued to examine the substantial amount of documentation which has been received relating to the five companies involved, namely Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd., Guinness and Mahon (Ireland) Ltd., Hamilton Ross Co. Ltd., Irish Intercontinental Bank Ltd. and Kentford Securities Ltd. He is also using whatever powers are available to him to interview persons and obtain additional documentation in an effort to advance his inquiries. I expect to receive some final reports from him on these companies early in the New Year.
As previously indicated, section 21 of the Companies Act, 1990, precludes me from providing any information relating to the companies concerned, other than in certain specified circumstances.
