White-collar crime - Just do it Minister

It is very welcome that Justice Minister Alan Shatter has supported the view offered by the outgoing director of corporate enforcement, Paul Appleby — retiring at 58 — that the time allowed to question those arrested during an investigation needs to be extended.

Our supine attitude to pursuing white-collar criminals is unacceptable and much more needs to be done — and be seen to be done. These issues are at the very core of the crisis destroying so many business and careers, so many relationships and ambitions in Ireland today.

Mr Shatter is uniquely positioned to resolve this issue and he should do so immediately especially as his Government was elected to implement deep reform. Unfortunately the pace of reform is unimpressive and, as a new Dáil term looms, the project must be re-energised.