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WATCH: Brian Cowen explains THAT infamous bailout denial

The shaking heads of Dermot Ahern and Noel Dempsey became synonymous with the bailout in 2010.

DURING HIS EVIDENCE to the banking inquiry today, Brian Cowen recalled an infamous event where two of his cabinet ministers strenuously denied Ireland was in bailout talks – just days before the Troika’s arrival.

The former taoiseach described it as an “unfortunate incident” as he was questioned by Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy at the committee today.

In late November 2010, then-justice minister Dermot Ahern told reporters at an event in Meath that neither he nor his ministerial college Noel Dempsey, who was stood behind him, were aware of any bailout talks.

minister shake heads Broadsheet / YouTube Broadsheet / YouTube / YouTube

In another interview, Ahern said the rumours of bailout talks were “fiction”.

The above footage of the two ministers became synonymous with the government’s botched handling of keeping ministers and the public informed of the bailout negotiations.

Speaking today, Cowen said the ministers “said what they were told” although was critical of the “simplistic” answer.

What I’d have said was ‘these are matters for the minster for finance, you better talk to him about it.’

Watch Cowen explain what exactly happened:

Oireachtas / TheJournal.ie/YouTube

Cowen: ‘I played golf with Seán FitzPatrick but we never discussed Anglo’

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21 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
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    May 29th 2020, 9:43 AM

    Would have thought home diy and gardening books would have been up there

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    May 29th 2020, 10:02 AM

    @Paul: YouTube videos for that I reckon! Well the DIY at least

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    May 29th 2020, 11:36 AM

    @Paul Quirke: I haven’t touched the libraries. Loads of free books on kindle, plus I have kindle unlimited, which allows you to borrow loads of other books as well. Its £7.99 a month, so not free like the libraries, but imo, it’s worth it.

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    Mute Michelle Finnegan
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    May 29th 2020, 10:29 PM

    Dlr libraries is a brilliant resource. Rb digital, borrow box, overdrive. They’ve been reading stories for little kids too

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