merrion street

Commenting after the publication of the annual report of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement which outlined progress which that office had made in relation to the Anglo Irish Bank investigation, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter, T.D., said:

'It is, of course, the case that An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement have worked very closely together on investigating various aspects of what happened at Anglo Irish Bank.

The Garda Commissioner has confirmed to me that the Garda investigation is substantially complete and that the Gardaí continue to work very closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the investigation files which have been submitted to her and on which she will independently decide. The Commissioner has assured me that this work is receiving absolute priority.

I have said before that I share the sense of frustration at the length of time which investigations of this kind can take but what is important now is that nothing be said which would in any way risk the possibility of prejudicing any criminal proceedings which might arise'.