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THE BANKING INQUIRY will be prevented from asking former government ministers about what was said during 30 minutes of a crucial Cabinet meeting in the lead up to the bank guarantee six years ago.
The special Oireachtas committee set up to examine the collapse of the State’s banking system met for the second time this morning to discuss in more detail the timeline and limits of its investigation.
Legal advisors told the 11 members of the committee that they will have access to Cabinet documents and memos from the period around 30 September 2008 with all information that influenced the decision being compellable.
But TDs and Senators will be restricted from inquiring into what was said during a period of around 30 minutes of a crucial Cabinet meeting that led to the Fianna Fáil/Green government’s decision to issue a blanket guarantee of the Irish banking system.
Even former ministers who wish to waive their confidentiality will not be allowed to do so because of the constitutional protection afford to Cabinet deliberations.
Fianna Fáil TD and member of the committee Michael McGrath described the issue as a “setback” and “a ridiculous situation”.
He said it was “entirely avoidable” given that the confidentiality issue was one government had been aware of in advance.
He said: “This was the official Cabinet meeting where the decision was made. We have set up a banking inquiry which cannot now consider the Cabinet meeting where the decision was made – that is the bottom line.”
McGrath insisted there was merit to holding an inquiry but said it would’ve have been better to have an inquiry with “real teeth” and reiterated his party’s call for a ‘Leveson-style’ inquiry into the banking collapse.
He also expressed concerns about the limited timeline placed on the inquiry with members now due to issue their final report in November 2015. Public hearings are set to get under way in January of next year but could happen before then.
The inquiry also heard today that a budget of some €5.3 million will be allocated which chairman Ciarán Lynch said this was roughly equivalent to €1 for every person in the country.
Around €200,000 has been allocated for legal costs but there are concerns among some members that this may not be enough if witnesses challenge the inquiry in the courts.
The committee also agreed to appoint a group of technical experts in various fields in time for the September return of the Dáil to work on the inquiry’s terms of reference.
Concerns were raised at today’s private meeting about the inclusion of officials from the Department of Finance and Central Bank on this group and the matter is set to be raised again next week.
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said it was a positive development that Cabinet papers from the period are to be made available pointing out that it was always known that confidentiality of ministerial discussions could not be breached.
“The only body that can have a limited lifting of Cabinet confidentiality would be a tribunal which we obviously aren’t,” he pointed out.
Originally published 4.53pm
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Eh McGuinness can’t vote….
He knows he’s not going to win so why bother go down and vote. He is probably not planing another bank robbery with people he doesn’t know
He is giving the other 6 a head start out of the goodness of his heart. That’s why he is not voting.
I am so dissapointed that the standard of our presidential candidates is so low !!!!! is that what we have become ??? Where is the Statesman or woman in that lot !!!!! Martin McGuinness ???? HOW COULD THE COUNTRY EVEN CONSIDER HIM AS PRESIDENT. Sean Gallagher !!! please , who does he think he is ??? a half baked go between for shady people………. and the rest, well harmless and hopeless. Our country has lost its way for sure.
MMG is not voting because he doesn’t have a vote. Like many 10′s of thousands of Irish citizens who live in the 6 counties we don’t have a vote. Ironically we can stand though !
Hopefully the forthcoming constitutional convention will right this wrong.
Yes that true it is wrong that you can stand to be the Irish President if your from a DIFFERENT COUNTRY. Hopefully that will be sorted soon.
Thought there was a moretoreum till voting closes tonight
only applies to “mandate broadcasting”…..ie Special Mary talking about her integrity and all that shite!!!
df you think to much
Or not!
I reckon they’ll all be in the toilet.
have your say