Vol. 552 No. 3
36 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number and the value of accounts frozen by the Central Bank arising from the measures announced in the aftermath of the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 at the latest date for which figures are available; the accounts frozen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12415/02]
The Central Bank has informed me that, to date, the accounts of about half a dozen persons have been frozen by the financial institutions and that the total amount involved is in the region of €127,000. These accounts have been frozen by the financial institutions on the basis of an EU Council Regulation, EC No. 467/2001, dated 6 March 2001, which provides for the freezing of funds and other financial resources of the Taliban of Afghanistan. It is directly applicable in Ireland and, therefore, has the force of law here. This regulation, which has been amended by the EU Commission on eight occasions since September 2001, lists the entities and individuals whose financial resources must be targeted. The Central Bank – as one of the relevant competent authorities in this country for implementing these regulations – has been maintaining close contacts with financial and other relevant bodies on this matter. Statutory instruments under Irish law provide for compliance with these regulations and for penalties if they are breached.
It would not be appropriate, or indeed possible, for me to give details of the accounts which have been frozen. Under the relevant EU regulations, such information is exchanged between the competent authorities and the EU Commission.
