THE MINISTER for Justice says he shares the impatience of many people at the pace of investigations into possible criminal behaviour at Anglo Irish Bank.

“I also appreciate that the investigators and prosecutors face particular challenges as a result of the complexities of the matters being investigated,” Alan Shatter added. “This is the most complex investigation of its kind ever undertaken in the State.”

Mr Shatter said a number of Garda investigation files had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions and independent directions were awaited. A full investigation team remained employed at the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation to conduct necessary follow-up inquiries.

“The Garda Commissioner has assured me that this work is receiving absolute priority.” He said 23 members of the Garda were engaged in the investigations.

Ten investigative strands, requiring an analysis of more than 800,000 documents and 250,000 recordings of telephone conversations, 15,000 of which were found to be relevant, were involved. Witness statements were very lengthy.

Search warrants and court orders had been executed and persons arrested, said Mr Shatter. It had also been necessary to carry out inquiries outside the State.

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Jonathan O’Brien said there had been only one forensic accountant attached to the Garda inquiry. “Was that one of the reasons, or part of the reason, the investigation was so long?” he added.

Mr Shatter said he had raised the matter of resources with the relevant authorities when he was appointed Minister.

“At all times, I was informed that the Garda and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement had all the resources that they needed,” he added. He had raised the issue of whether they needed anyone extra in the forensic accounting or any other area. On all occasions he was assured they did not.

Mr Shatter said it had been explained to him that it was not a question of needing extra staff, but of the staff having knowledge of the documentation. He remained resolute in his determination that white-collar crime should be fully investigated so perpetrators would be brought to justice.

The commitment was underscored in the Programme for Government and, on taking office, the Government had given priority to satisfying itself the necessary resources were available.