Ansbacher court ruling widely welcomed

The High Court ruling that the Ansbacher report be published in full has been broadly welcomed.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Mary Harney said she was satisfied with the decision.

The Progressive Democrats leader said: "It has always been my strong view that the findings of this investigation should be put into the public domain and I very much welcome the decision of Justice Finnegan to allow this happen".

The Director of Corporate Enforcement, Mr Paul Appleby, also praised the ruling. He said his organisation would be studying the report to decide whether or not to instigate investigations into companies or individuals it names.

However, he said there had been a lot of "hype" about the report, some of which was "overblown", he said.

There would only be a small number of names that would be well-known to the public, he added.

Fine Gael’s Mr Phil Hogan said it was important that "all matters are published and explained in the interests of transparency and fairness".

It is imperative to establish the motivation regarding the establishment of these deposits and to get the necessary clarification regarding the legal or illegal position in respect of each account at the earliest possible opportunity," he added.

The Labour Party enterprise spokesman, Mr Tommy Broughan, was more reserved in his enthusiasm for the ruling. He gave the decision a guarded welcome, but strongly criticised the Government, claiming it was seeking to defer publication for over a week.

"The Government almost seems to be inviting further legal challenge," he claimed. "The delay in publication will mean that the Dáil will have gone into recess before it is available, so there will be no opportunity for the Oireachtas to debate it before the autumn."

"This is simply not acceptable."

Mr Eamon Ryan, the Green Party’s enterprise spokesman, said his party "wholeheartedly" welcomed the decision.

"Of course, there is speculation that lawyers for some of those named may seek to launch legal challenges to protect their clients’ interests. The Green Party, however, are now urging Tánaiste Mary Harney to publish the report in full as soon as possible."

Sinn Féin’s Dublin West TD, Mr Seán Crowe said anybody named in the report has "very serious questions to answer."

"It is time to name and shame those who have profited from the misery of others in our society. It is time also to learn the lessons of Ansbacher and other financial scandals and bring forward proper rules and regulations to prevent the wealthy and the well-connected from avoiding paying their fair share."