CRH plc has, at all times, co-operated fully with any official inquiry or investigation. The Group received no requests for information from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment or its officials relating to the allegations contained in the affidavit. CRH will be co-operating fully with the High Court inspectors if requested to do so.

CRH plc strongly and unequivocally states that the Board of CRH plc never discussed or approved or knowingly permitted the carrying out of banking business from its premises by the late Mr Des Traynor, who was Chairman of the Company from 1987 to 1994.

The role of Chairman at CRH is non-executive. The Chairman is provided with an office and secretarial services at the Company's Registered Office at 42 Fitzwilliam Square, which ensures convenient access for consultation and for Board and Committee Meetings.

As the role is non-executive and therefore not full-time, the practice is that the Chairman is entitled to conduct other personal business from his office including work as a Board member of other companies, or work relating to representative organisations, Government committees as well as other personal matters of which CRH plc would not necessarily be aware.

The Board of CRH plc has never knowingly permitted or facilitated any illegal activities to be conducted by any Director or employee from any of its premises.

Any arrangement that Mr Traynor may have entered into with an individual Director is a matter for the Director concerned and the Company does not consider it appropriate to comment on any alleged arrangements or other allegations in the affidavit.