Ministers should be able to check the bona fides of business people with a central government office before writing character references for them, a former minister for agriculture has said.
Mr Ivan Yates TD said government departments might supply information about breaches of company and financial regulations to the office, to complement data from other agencies, such as those which record debts.
The minister was revealed at the weekend as having signed a letter of commendation for a man, convicted of fraud in Britain, who is now at the centre of a Criminal Assets Bureau investigation.
Mr Yates said he signed the letter, similar to "dozens" he signed during his term of office, after checking only his own Department's records.
The Criminal Assets Bureau is investigating a food company named Eringold regarding alleged laundering of drug profits. A former junior minister, Mr Michael Keating, and the convicted fraudster, Mr Peter Bolger, have both been arrested and questioned by detectives as part of the investigation.
Mr Yates confirmed that while minister he had signed a letter dictated by Mr Keating recommending the firm and the two men to a foreign government. The letter, under the letterhead of the minister's office and signed last February, was to Mr Dominic Mendy, Minister of Trade in the Gambia.
In it Mr Yates described the food export project and said it would have the support of the Department. The letter described Mr Keating and an accountant, Mr Michael O'Leary of Simpson Xavier, as "well respected and highly professional".
"Their presence augurs well for the project," the letter said.
Mr Bolger was described as managing director of the food company, and the minister said "his commitment to this project and his level of professionalism are second to none".
Mr Yates said he had been surprised to learn of the Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. The only checks he had made before signing the letter were to ensure the company had not breached his Department's export credit rules. The records had indicated "a clean slate".
"Anyone trying to open up markets would basically be encouraged," Mr Yates said yesterday. "One operates on the basis of good faith. I had no reason to believe there was anything untoward or any grounds for being suspicious".
He said he still knew no details of the project or those involved, but if "irregularities" were proven "then I regret the letter going out".
Mr Yates suggested the creation of a central system drawing together information about breaches of company or financial regulations from government departments and credit agencies.
However, he said even such a relatively comprehensive system might not indicate whether business people were subject to legal action or court judgments abroad.
Mr Keating and Mr Bolger were arrested and questioned by detectives before being released two weeks ago. Mr O'Leary has been "suspended" from his post at Simpson Xavier, according to the firm.