Vol. 487 No. 4
74 Mr. Gilmore asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received the report of the officer appointed by her to investigate a number of companies arising from the Ansbacher accounts' disclosures; if not, when it is expected that the report will be received; if the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4064/98]
92 Mr. Ferris asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will report on the progress of the investigation by her Department's inspectors into the Ansbacher accounts. [4106/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 92 together.
Following the receipt on 8 January last of an interim report by Mr. Gerard Ryan in relation to his ongoing examination of the books and documents of Celtic Helicopters Ltd., I proceeded under section 19 of the Companies Act, 1990, to appoint Mr. Ryan to examine the books and documents of Irish International Bank Ltd., Guinness & Mahon (Ireland) Ltd., Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd. and Hamilton Ross Co. Ltd. While Irish Intercontinental Bank Ltd. initially challenged my decision to appoint Mr. Ryan to the company, it subsequently agreed on 21 January to co-operate fully with Mr. Ryan's investigation.
Mr. Ryan's inquiries are ongoing, and due to the large amount of documentation involved, I expect that it will be a number of months before his work will be completed. I will refrain from public comment until I receive his reports and consider them in the light of legal advice on the options then available to me.
Section 21 of the Companies Act, 1990, outlines the restricted circumstances in which publication or disclosure of these reports may take place. I will clearly not be in a position to address this issue until legal advice is available to me on the completed reports.
