The Director of Corporate Enforcement is seeking to cross-examine former National Irish Bank (NIB)executive Jim Lacey in a High Court action in which the director is seeking an order restraining Mr Lacey from involvement in the management of any company.

The proceedings against Mr Lacey, Pine Haven, Grove House Gardens, Blackrock, Co Dublin, were mentioned before Mr Justice Roderick Murphy yesterday and were adjourned for mention on March 20th to allow the sides exchange legal documents.

Eileen Barrington, for the director, said her client is seeking Mr Lacey's consent to cross-examination and will be writing to him to that effect.

Counsel said her side had earlier written to Mr Lacey asking for his consent to cross-examination but Mr Lacey had responded such an application was premature prior to the exchange of affidavits between the sides. A third replying affidavit had been received from Mr Lacey on February 28th last and her side wanted time to consider that and assess whether a reply was required.

Ms Barrington said the two-week adjournment would facilitate that process and her side would also write again to Mr Lacey seeking his consent to cross-examination.

The application relating to Mr Lacey is one of nine brought by the director against various NIB executives on the basis of the findings of inspectors Tom Grace and John Blayney in their July 2004 report following their investigation into the tax evasion scandal of the 1990s in NIB.