The Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs were last night checking reports that a Yemen-based honey dealer, named in a US list of people and firms suspected of links with the Al-Qaeda organisation, travels on an Irish passport.
The Department of Justice said however it "would not be department policy to say whether any individual had been granted a passport" under the controversial "passports for investment scheme".
The New York Times, quoting US officials, said last week that Osama bin Laden has been operating a honey distribution network in the Middle East and Pakistan, which serves as a cover for arms and drug dealing.
The paper said that Yemen, which produces some of the best honey in the Middle East, was the main distribution centre for his operation. Yemeni authorities froze assets of individuals and organisations suspected of links with terrorism at the weekend, following the publication of the lists.
However a number of honey dealers in the area accused the United States of confusion in naming people and businesses. Egyptian national Mr Mahmud Abu al-Ftooh who, according to news service reports, lives in Britain and travels on an Irish passport, owns a honey centre in the north of Sanaa.
"We are surprised that the name of our business figures on the US list," said an employee yesterday, adding that it was an "American stupidity in the search for innocent victims".
Mr Mohammad al-Asrah of the Sanaa-based Al-Shifa Honey Press said: "Al-Shifa is transparent in its dealings and has been so for the past 10 years."
He continued: "I resent the allegations made by the press about the honey business in Yemen. Our stores sell honey and oil perfumes and nothing else. I transfer the profits of the stores to the owner in London whenever he asks me to and I welcome any investigation," he said.
If Mr al-Ftooh was given an Irish passport as part of the controversial passports for investment scheme, it would be recorded by the Department of Justice. However if he acquired a passport by a more conventional route, records would be kept by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Spokesmen for both Departments last night said checks were under way to determine the veracity of the reports. A spokesman for the Garda Press Office said the name was not known to the Garda.