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Committee chairman Ciarán Lynch prior to Saturday's meeting of the inquiry RollingNews.ie

The banking inquiry is in a real mess right now

The committee faces a crucial 24 hours in a bid to salvage its work.

THERE ARE GROWING fears that the banking inquiry will be unable to produce a final report as members bid to salvage the crisis-hit investigation into the financial crash.

The 11-member Oireachtas committee met over the weekend and now appears likely to be working through Christmas in a bid to produce some form of final document.

This follows the decision to discard a significant amount of a 750-page draft report produced by the inquiry’s investigators.

The draft report was widely criticised by members who said it was poorly written, incoherent, had major gaps and required substantial rewriting. Hundreds of amendments to the report were tabled by frustrated members last week.

TheJournal.ie has also learned that at least one member was preparing to quit the inquiry altogether on Saturday. In addition, Socialist TD Joe Higgins has said it is unlikely he will support the final document.

In a bid to salvage the inquiry a ‘finalisation team’ was put in place following Saturday’s meeting.

This includes two committee members (Fine Gael TD Eoghan Murphy and Labour senator Susan O’Keeffe), two parliamentary assistants, a legal expert, and two members of the inquiry’s back-up staff.

They have been tasked with coming up with a plans to restructure the report to take account of members’ views and elements of the first draft.

The committee hopes to sign off on a plan to produce a publishable report tomorrow. However, one committee source said today that may not be possible, admitting:

I’d say it’s more likely there won’t be a report than there will be one.

The main problem facing the committee is a race against time.

It had originally been envisaged that a finalised report would be signed off by members by the end of this month and then distributed to those mentioned in it who would have 14 days to respond to its contents.

The date for publication of the final report is 19 January but this could prove impossible even with the committee working right through Christmas. A source said the report would likely end up being “politically neutral” as there will be no time to debate it.

The panel concluded public hearings in early September, having heard from 128 witnesses over 49 days’ of sittings.

This included hearing evidence from former taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen – as well as several former and current senior bankers during hours of public sessions.

On top of this, the committee sat for hours and hours of private meetings deep in the bowels of Leinster House.

Crisis averted? Here’s what was agreed at today’s ‘tense’ Banking Inquiry meeting

Read: Why some TDs will have their iPhones and iPads taken from them next week

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56 Comments
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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:00 PM

    For the love of sweet Jaysis.

    151
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    Mute cormac o connell
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:08 PM

    Did we ever see the likes of this …A finalization Team is been set to over there very own work …Mother of sweet God

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    Mute Freebetcitydcom Mike
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:41 PM

    FG doing FF a favour before their upcoming coalition. Both these scam political parties are up to their necks in it and birth supported the bail out.

    Our system of govt is a korrupt corporate owned joke.

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    Mute Joe Phillips
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:42 PM

    It would all be hilarious if we at least knew for a fact that we’d see a ‘changing of the guards’ very soon… and that the old guards would be immediately arrested and properly investigated when removed from office.
    The “hilarity” now is just the fact that “polls” are still “reporting” significant levels of support for these gangsters. Either the polls are lying or 95% of the people I’ve seen/heard express opinions are.

    67
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:21 PM

    Complete and utter balls up to a scale on achievable by an Irish government. Nobody foresaw this before setting it up?… Nobody….big announcements by FG and as usual, nothing to them. If ever you needed a reason to not vote for the government parties, this incompetence is it.

    40
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    Mute Brian Deane
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 3:47 PM

    Who can be surprised? Letting politicians conduct this inquiry was always going to end like this. Enda saw this ‘inquiry’ as a glorious opportunity to stitch up the previous government as the arch villains of the crash. The only problem was much of the evidence from the FG/Lab players showed that they were singing off the same hymn sheet politically and could just as easily have ended up where FF ended up.

    12
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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:10 PM

    What a laugh. Ya know you’re better off with a cottage on the west coast overlooking the Atlantic, with no TV or broadband, tending a few animals, with a small plot to live off of. ..completely zoned out and a million miles away from these charlatans and their lies !

    123
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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:14 PM

    Basically yeah, back to the feudal system. Us lowly serfs should not concern ourselves with the affairs of our betters. If only I had any hope of being able to afford my own cottage.

    54
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    Mute For Connolly
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:10 PM

    So, basically the government got their FF bashing exercise into the headlines and onto the telly, but no report at the end.

    We need a new republic.

    91
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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:24 PM

    That’s the point, what we’ve ended up with is a failed State that’s a million miles away from the Republic that was intended.
    Time for a fresh start.

    57
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:36 PM

    Amen to that.

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    Mute Duff
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:53 PM

    For Connolly

    How would you suggest forming a new republic?

    12
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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:05 PM

    Government are delighted and everything gone according to plan.

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    Mute MK76
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:08 PM

    Eh Joseph, why would the govt be delighted in this instance, since the terms of reference were focused on the previous govt’s tenure?

    If anything, they’re p*ssed off as there is no political capital in it for them.

    20
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    Mute D H
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:39 PM

    Because MK fg dance to the same tune as ff did in that they don’t want to p!$$ off their banker cronies and they don’t want to tip the trough over

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    Mute Motherofdivinejebus
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:30 PM

    BS MK, and well you know it, they are up to their necks in it and could easily have facilitated changes to the way the investigation was handled years ago, but they have no interest in that, as they serve the same people that FF Do, they purposely have made sure this investigation was toothless, and are doing the exact same thing with the IBRC Enquiry, a nest of scheming barstewards is all they are.
    It looks like the decision by Merkels deputy Fuhrer not to go to the electorate straight after the giveaway bdget to the rich, could yet come back to bite him on the ass by the time all the dust settles on this in Febuary,
    All we need is the annual outbreak of the winter vomiting bug to hit our hospitals to create the perfect storm, and we just may have enough disillusioned voters to outweigh the greedy who vote with their wallets.
    I think i`ll ask Santa for the some of those voters to cop on when he is dropping off the old presents.

    19
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    Mute Dot Com
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:05 PM

    The old Fine Gael, Make it look like your doing something ploy.Just like in government big promises zero delivery except in the aria of Property Tax.

    86
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    Mute Brendan Gordon
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:11 PM

    No surprises here. The ruling class are always utterly helpless when it come to holding their own to account

    72
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    Mute Brian Ward
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:05 PM

    Why am I not surprised?

    58
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    Mute Joe Arthur
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:10 PM

    Classic Ireland.

    51
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    Mute Peter Gavin
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:18 PM

    A farce from start to finish.

    47
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    Mute Mick Hannigan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:09 PM

    Seems like they are holding thus off until after next GE,

    46
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    Mute Motherofdivinejebus
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:34 PM

    Seems like they tried to hold off, but ran out of time
    Enda should have “toddled off” to Mickey D in the park straight after his giveaway budget, probably should have had th car outside and the enging running, still time for people to cop om, and just in time for a proper 100 year Celebration
    Clean slate throw them all out, and start again

    17
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    Mute B-Egan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:22 PM

    Were an Absolute laughing stock to any informed intelligent person or government around the world. Shameful time to be Irish. Look at Paddy he has a comedy banking inquiry to try and find out why they were shafted by the banks and Fianna Fail idiots and at the end of it all it will go in the bin. What about the people ? They will surely go mad hearing about this .. Nah there away with the fairies too they thought they were great during the boom now they have reverted back to obedience and indifference . Hey we could sell them rain at this stage.. ya lets go for it.

    40
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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:42 PM

    B- Egan they are trying to sell us rain it’s called irish water roll on the 8th.

    26
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    Mute B-Egan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:51 PM

    I just want to say i love Eire i also like the people in it we are as good as any but we really need to get the finger out and stick up for ourselves . This mentality of unaccountability and corruption is not good for anyone and the younger generations will come up thinking dog eat dog world the levels of moral hazard hit the floor its a frre for all. Not good planning in the long run.

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    Mute Gareth Stewart
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:14 PM

    Farce

    39
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    Mute Adrian
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:18 PM

    Well, banking enquiry tds and senators, hand back your fees so, or is there some legal requirement preventing ye from doing so!

    35
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:20 PM

    A government whitewash, did expect anything else?

    32
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 8:14 PM

    The problem is all the Lefties want the committee conclusion translated as gaeilge and rhyming.

    They just can’t find a cupla focail for relatively simple banking terms they’ve never heard of before.

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    Mute Rowe
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:34 PM

    What a sham..Banana Republic at its best.

    32
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    Mute Paul Tao
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:23 PM

    Here’s an idea: Summarize it onto a page. There’s no need to make a 750 page song and dance just or the sake of it. Who do they think is going to read it? Their constituents would prefer it summarized in bullet points on one page.

    28
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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:33 PM

    I can do that now.

    - Everyone is sorry
    - Nobody remembers anything
    - Nobody did anything wrong
    - Nobody is to blame

    There you go.

    55
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    Mute D H
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:42 PM

    And you forgot the most important line Shakka -Things will continue as they were before

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    Mute Markonline
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:43 PM

    Ya hit the nail on the head there shakka

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    Mute Em Ni Mhurchu
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 3:47 PM

    Absolute gold Shakka!!!

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    Mute Martin Conway
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:18 PM

    Extend the timeline & do it right! Don’t let a silly election get in the way !!

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:56 PM

    I don’t think they can due to the constitution, and the failure of the inquiries referendum to grant the govt of the day that power

    11
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    Mute Christy Nolan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:15 PM

    It’s all the opposition’s fault, the ones that were never in power. Nothing to do with the FFGangsters.

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    Mute Gerald Gallagher
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:34 PM

    A waste of money nothing but a whitewash from the start set up to fail

    18
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    Mute David Flaherty
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:22 PM

    WTF is wrong with this country they were tasked in getting to the root of our banks dodge dealings now there’s no report ready but they all get paid and nothing to show for it the whole government and all connected to government should be all lined up and shot there problem sorted this country is going into black hole with no light in sight

    17
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    Mute MyDreamEscapade
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:32 PM

    Typical

    13
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    Mute MK76
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 12:06 PM

    Quelle surprise? Irish solution to an Irish problem.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 1:18 PM

    Redacted.

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    Mute james r
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 8:32 PM

    This is staged .. Nothing was ever gonna happen

    3
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 8:10 PM

    Looks like we should have let Fine Gael manage the composition of the committee as originally planned and then they would have had egg on their face if they didn’t perform.

    However the forces of the left wanted all the loons join in; and now it is a big mess.

    Quelle surprise. The left in action. Where performance is not required. Just indexing.

    2
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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 7:33 PM

    Jaaasus would some one have the balls to resign from this totally discredited enquiry.

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    Mute Dirk Jansen
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 10:02 PM

    The Banking Enquiry was set up as a dysfunctional choir, to ensure that nobody found the hymn sheet.

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 7:37 PM

    Rich men make laws for poor men. Poor men don’t make laws for rich men.

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    Mute Joey Hackman
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 9:02 PM

    How complete anyway is the banking enquiry given Mark Duffy from BOSI wasn’t interviewed.

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    Mute John Tierney
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 3:37 PM

    Read Tom Darcy’s book ‘Waiting for the Sheriff’ and you’ll come to some understanding as to why its a mess. http://waitingforthesheriff.com/

    1
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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 8:04 PM

    Banking Inquiry … Draft Report 01 – Summary: A Matter of Race not Regulation!

    The Irish Financial Crash …. fundamental causes ….. A matter of Race … not Regulation!
    1. No philosophy taught in Irish schools to ensure a framework for sane rational judgement in personal and work life.
    2. No maths taught in Irish Universities on Economics degree courses, so no tools to model anything!
    3. Irish Catholic, very religious, so a belief society not a rational logical society, believing in leprechauns, goblins, banshees, the meeja, tooth fairies, pishogues, solicitors, fairies, estate agents, virgin marys, economists, politicians, won it on the horses, bankers, the Edge can play guitar
    4. Banks just max people’s debt, nothing else! No warning signs saying “Beware the Harbingers of Debt”.
    5. Irish Universities should be upgraded to Techs. Would have prevented mass uneducated. Mortar was invented in 1794 by Joseph Aspdin. Consists of sand, cement and water ….. No Platinum in it!

    A Matter of Race … not Regulation!

    1
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Nov 23rd 2015, 8:11 PM

    Or put more simply: a fawning public who loved Bertie. Who decided there was no need for an effective Regulator or you may aswell top yourself. And we all went mad borrowing without restriction.

    1
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