Tanaiste to seek an extension of powers of NIB inspectors

An application will be made in the High Court today that the terms of reference of two inspectors already inquiring into allegations of improper charging of fees and interest at National Irish Bank, be extended to include the sale by the bank of the Clerical Medical International (CMI) investment bonds.

The application, from the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, will seek to have the remit of Mr Justice John Blayney and Mr Tom Grace extended, and follows receipt of an interim report from an authorised officer which indicates the bank may have conducted its offshore bonds schemes with intent to defraud the Revenue Commissioners.

There was no comment from the bank yesterday following a report on RTE radio giving details of interviews with two NIB customers who invested in the Isle-of-Man bonds. Using the voices of actors, the This Week programme quoted the women as saying that the move had been suggested by the bank, and that they had been told their money would be "safe" from the Revenue.

According to the programme, one woman said that in 1993 she had gone to NIB to discuss bringing money from an account she had with Northern Bank in Belfast back to the Repubic. She had wanted to avail of the tax amnesty. An official had advised her that if she went to the Revenue, she would have to explain where she got the money in the first place.

The woman was reported to have said that the official advised her to place the money in the Isle of Man, and she agreed. The bank then handled the transfer of the money. The woman had funds with NIB, as well as Northern Bank, and the whole lot was transferred to the Isle of Man, according to the programme.

Money invested by NIB customers in the CMI product was often redeposited by CMI bank with NIB, where each portfolio was held in a numbered account, under the name of CMI. The woman was advised that her name would be in one place (the Isle-of-Man) and a number some place else, and that she would never be discovered.

She now felt very upset, and that her whole life's savings were "gone" because she had not received the correct advice from the bank.

She had not been interviewed by anyone carrying out inquiries on behalf of NIB. A report on the CMI scheme based on an inquiry carried out by auditors from NIB's parent group's European headquarters, was delivered to the bank's board some weeks ago. NIB is owned by the National Australia group.

A second NIB customer who placed funds in the CMI bonds, through NIB, was reported by RTE as saying she had been approached by the bank and asked if she had any money to invest. She was introduced to a financial adviser who told her of the scheme and that her money would be "safe from tax" if invested in the offshore bonds.

She had returned to the bank when the current controversy arose but was told that the adviser who had dealt with her was no longer with the bank. She had been told by the bank they could not advise her in relation to the situation, according to the programme.

NIB has always insisted that the CMI bonds scheme was not designed and introduced as a vehicle for tax evasion. The bank's spokesman could not be contacted last night.

The internal auditors report into the CMI scheme found that with a "significant minority" of the 200 portfolios, there were problems with the associated documentation. The problems include incorrect names and addresses.

A total of £33 million was invested in the CMI bonds. However, another £15 million was invested in other offshore bond schemes operated by the bank. The authorised officer, Mr Martin Cogrove, has established that none of the financial products involved are authorised for sale in this jurisdiction.