As the Deputy will be aware the terms of reference of the proposed Commission of Investigation in relation to IBRC include the following explicit term of reference dealing with information received by the Department of Finance:
"in relation to each transaction under investigation, whether the Minister for Finance or his Department was kept informed where appropriate in respect of the transactions concerned, and whether he, or officials on his behalf, took appropriate steps in respect of the information provided to them."
Both Houses of the Oireachtas have approved these terms of reference. It is important that I do not interfere with or prejudice the important work to be conducted by the Commission of Investigation. In those circumstances I have received legal advice that it would be inappropriate for me to comment publicly in respect of information received from IBRC in relation to the various transactions under review.