The Revenue Commissioners has begun contacting people mentioned in the report into the Ansbacher deposits and from whom it believes tax may be due.

The report, by authorised officer Mr Gerard Ryan, contains a list of 120 names linked to the deposits, 100 of whom are Irish tax residents.

Some of the State's most senior business figures are included in the list.

Inclusion does not mean the person concerned had undeclared income.

The Revenue is also involved in continuing High Court proceedings to gain access to bank documentation on the deposits which it wants to use in tandem with the authorised officer's report.

It is using new powers (allowing it access to a class of documents rather than documents linked to the affairs of a named individual) to seek the documentation.

Meanwhile, the High Court inspectors appointed in September to inquire into Ansbacher (Cayman), the Cayman Islands bank which ran the deposits, have taken on a senior counsel, two accountants and two secretarial staff.

They have rented office space in Trident House, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

The inspectors, retired High Court judge Mr Declan Costello, Ms Noreen Mackay BL, and chartered accountant Mr Paul Rowan, are expected to report some time next year.

The reports of High Court inspectors may be published.

In the application to the High Court in September to have the inspectors appointed, it was said the extra powers they would have over those of an authorised officer could lead to their discovering yet more people linked to the secretive deposits.

Further evidence on the operation of the deposits by the late Mr Des Traynor, in particular the Ansbacher accounts of Mr Charles Haughey operated by Mr Traynor, is likely to be heard when the Moriarty tribunal resumes hearings, probably next week.