The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has urged Ansbacher (Cayman) and its parent banks to reconsider their decision not to co-operate with the authorised officer investigating the operation of the Ansbacher deposits.
Ms Harney, speaking in the Dail, said she was "at a loss to understand" how the Cayman Islands bank, "which is owned by reputable banking concerns", could continue to stand over the banking and corporate practices revealed in the McCracken report.
Ansbacher (Cayman) is owned by the Henry Ansbacher group, which in turn is owned by First National Bank of South Africa. No spokesperson for either of the banks was available last night.
Ansbacher (Cayman) refuses to discuss the issue. It told a court hearing in the Cayman Islands last month that it would not be voluntarily co-operating with the officer's inquiries.
Ms Harney told Mr Eamon Gilmore, of Democratic Left, that, in January, she authorised Mr Gerard Ryan to examine the books and documents of four companies. These were: Ansbacher (Cayman), Guinness & Mahon, Hamilton Ross, and Irish Intercontinental Bank. "His investigations are making significant progress. A significant amount of new and relevant documentation received from Guinness & Mahon (Ireland) Ltd and Irish Intercontinental Bank Ltd is being examined, together with a smaller amount of Hamilton Ross Co Ltd material."
The Tanaiste said that, while Mr Ryan had been denied access to the books of Ansbacher (Cayman), "the papers of Guinness & Mahon and Irish Intercontinental Bank contain correspondence and other information relating to the business of Ansbacher (Cayman) in Ireland".
"Having regard to the fact that Mr Ryan is seeking to uncover clandestine activity in the State spanning a period, in some cases, of more than 20 years, you will appreciate that this task will take some time. At present, I expect that it will be a number of months before Mr Ryan can substantially complete his inquiries."
Ms Harney said that, on April 27th, last Ansbacher (Cayman) initiated legal proceedings in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. "I am pleased that the court decided that it did not have the jurisdiction to grant the order sought by Ansbacher (Cayman) Ltd, which would have prohibited the disclosure of Ansbacher books and documents to Mr Ryan." She said she had no information at this stage as to whether the Cayman bank would be appealing the decision.
"I am absolutely determined that Mr Ryan should complete his inquiries and I will assist him in doing so by seeking, through all available legal means, retrieval of the Ansbacher documents which should continue to be available to him here for examination."
Ms Harney said the attempt by the Cayman bank to get the Grand Court "to give its previous actions legal protection and a veneer of respectability has rightly been thrown out.
Even at this late stage, I urge Ansbacher (Cayman) and its parent banks to reconsider their stance of non-co-operation with Mr Ryan's legitimate inquiries into Ansbacher's past activity in Ireland".
