Tánaiste Appoints new Director Designate of Corporate Enforcement

Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Thursday 5th October 2000) announced that she has appointed Mr. Paul Appleby as the new Director Designate of Corporate Enforcement. His appointment follows competitive interviews held by the Civil Service Commission.

A civil servant in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Appleby has worked in the company law area of the Department for several years and has been involved in a number of investigations undertaken by the Department.

The decision to establish the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement was one of the key recommendations of the Working Group on Company Law Compliance and Enforcement, established by the Tánaiste, to examine ways in which the level of compliance with and enforcement of company law could be improved.

The Tánaiste made the announcement of the appointment of the new Director Designate on the day on which The Company Law Enforcement Bill, 2000, commenced its Second Stage Hearing in the Dail. The Bill, which was published by the Tánaiste in July, flows directly from the recommendations of the Working Group and provides for the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

The Tánaiste said "Mr. Appleby will lead a multi-disciplinary team comprising staff with legal, accounting, administrative and criminal investigative expertise. In addition to having lawyers and accountants as well as civil servants on the staff, seven members of An Garda Síochána are to be seconded to the Office to assist in its work".

"The team will investigate suspected instances of corporate malpractice and, where evidence of such is found, to prepare cases for the prosecution of offenders and/or to seek High Court injunctions against such offenders. The Director will also be provided with a range of new powers not currently available to the responsible Minister", the Tánaiste added.