I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 102 together.
Sixteen investigations into company law matters have been initiated by me since I became Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in 1997. In respect of three of these, the High Court appointed inspectors under section 8 of the Companies Act, 1990, following an application by me. The High Court inspectors appointed to Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited presented their report to the High Court on 10 June. Section 8 inquiries are continuing into National Irish Bank Limited and National Irish Bank Financial Services Limited. A further interim report was presented to the High Court on 24 July and it is anticipated that a final report will be submitted to the High Court during the first half of 2003. As in the case of Ansbacher (Cayman) Limited, the question of whether the reports are published is entirely a matter for the High Court. The High Court ordered the publication of the Ansbacher report. An investigation under section 14 of the Companies Act, 1990 was completed in 1998 and the report has been passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Eleven investigations were initiated by me under section 19 of the Companies Act, 1990, of which five have been concluded. The reports relating to two of the five investigations completed were passed to the DPP. The file in another case was returned and a number of summary prosecutions have since been successfully concluded. The report provided an input into the successful application to the High Court for the appointment of inspectors under section 8 while the fourth report was passed to the relevant High Court inspectors. One report was completed in September 2002 and has been referred to the Director of Corporate Enforcement. My Department is considering whether this report should be referred to other authorities.