Calls for the names of Ansbacher account holders but the Taoiseach's office say publication is prohibited.
An affidavit from the High Court claims around £50 million was deposited by Ansbacher in Irish accounts. Political pressure is mounting on the government to release the names of the depositors. Many of these depositors are leading Irish business people.
Political pressure is being put on to release the names of deposti account holders in Ansbacher a Cayman Islands bank.
The leader of the Fine Gael party John Bruton says it would be in the national interest to publish the names unless the account holders themselves make public disclosures.
I think we must get to finality on the Ansbacher issue very quickly.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that Section 21 of the Companies Act (1990) prevents the publication of any aspect of the report. John Bruton responded by saying,
In the national interest, we must publish these names within the next seven days if they are not volunteered.
John Bruton and Fine Gael will support of any change in legislation needed to facilitate the publication.
The Labour Party, The Socialist Party and Fine Gael are all asking for the depositors with Ansbacher to be named.
Employers' organisation IBEC says it is shocked at the revelations and Archbishop Desmond Connell has said that the names should be made public. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says his hands are tied.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 25 September 1999. The reporter is Colm O'Callaghan.
