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FIANNA FÁIL HAS called on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to clarify comments made in the Dáil today where he stated that there were no files on the bank guarantee in his department and suggested that they may have been “shredded”.
During Leaders’ Questions, Kenny took issue with questions from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on banking debt by returning to the issue of the bank guarantee introduced by the Fianna Fáil-led government on 30 September 2008.
He said: “In respect of the bank guarantee – which you completed at 4am in the morning – nobody knows what you said. There is no file in Department of Taoiseach on this.
“It’s either shredded or disposed of, dispatched of. In other words, the government has no evidence of discussions that took place, of what you said,” he added, referring to Martin who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The comments have prompted a response from the Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson Michael McGrath who said this evening that the Taoiseach should clarify the matter by producing evidence that the files may have been shredded.
Otherwise he should withdraw his remarks, McGrath said.
In a statement, the Cork TD said: “The Taoiseach needs to clarify whether he has any evidence that files on the bank guarantee have been shredded, and if so, whether he has referred the matter to the Gardaí.
“If he has no such evidence, then the comments should be withdrawn. Surely the civil servants working for the Taoiseach could clarify for him the existence of such a file?
“It ill behoves the Taoiseach to cast aspersions in this way on persons that could include serving and former civil servants, his predecessor as Taoiseach and former government ministers – one of whom is deceased,” he added referring the late finance minister Brian Lenihan.
The issue of a lack of documentation related to the ill-fated decision to issue a blanket guarantee of the banks is well documented with the report into the banking crisis by the current governor of the Central Bank, Patrick Honohan, noting the problem.
“A detailed review of the ensuing discussions is hampered by the absence of an extensive written record of what transpired,” he wrotes in the report published in May 2010.
Writing on businesspost.ie, the Sunday Business Post political editor Pat Leahy reports that the coalition government has been unable to find any files on the bank guarantee.
In March of last year, current finance minister Michael Noonan said that the banking guarantee of September 2008 “will go down in history as the blackest day in Ireland since the Civil War broke out.”
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That’s a shame…. Middle East royalty share Andrews values towards women and victims, I would have said it was the perfect destination
@Tony Henry: Good point. He could Marry four or five 14 year olds over there and they wouldn’t blink an eye!
@Tony Henry: he could just join the Church of the Latter Day Saints and do it here. No need to travel or change religion. Plus you get more wives.
@Tony Henry: Have people forgotten what Prince Phillips rumours were as well?
When you have everything, but it’s not enough.
@Hippocampus: he is a nasty piece of work, not particularly bright staying in a child traffickers house for 4 days after telling him their friendship was over.
Why hasn’t he been arrested?
@Darren Davitt: Diplomatic Immunity…
@Ryan Maher: That old chestnut!
@Darren Davitt: not even allowed to investigate never mind arrest. Completely outside the law.
@Cormac Ó Braonáin: As far as I know, only Charles and William and his eldest son have immunity.
He be right at home there
I’d avoid going down any tunnels in a fast car for a while old bean…….amazing how a nasty accident happens to a royal who doesn’t meet the standards and upsets lizzie. Be a terrible thing to happen again
He’s cancelled the trip as he realizes he should stay away from places with trafficked girls for a while.
@Steve O’Shea: The Saudis are famous for raping their Indian house staff / slaves and when they fall pregnant then dump them back into India as fast as possible…
Financially supported by his mother? Classic. I’m always dumbfounded that the brits put up with this craic and the blood line going back to Germany, which I might have accidentally read before? As I wouldn’t be investigating such things, as I couldn’t give a @€(& but think the google machine once showed me in passing.
@devvrox: I will never understand it either. They give out about welfare scroungers over there. The Royal Family are the biggest of the lot. Plus as you say they are German so they are welfare scrounging immigrants! I think that was one of the reasons for the Brexit argument?!?
@devvrox: She will rubber stamp him lol.
Given ME proclivities, I would have thought he’d well received over there.
The randy old Duke of York
He liked his school girls young
His best friend Epstein was the source
for all his party fun
It took a forensic journalist
With intricate interview skill
To bring down this predator prince
To public horror and thrill
But don’t forget his victims
They have been to Hell
They deserve justice now
It’s time HRH did tell.
He really is extremely, intellectually challenged. Perhaps lucky for him is that he doesn’t know how much trouble he is in. And as for that harridan of an ex wife, a more disgusting piece of work is rarely found. And he takes advice from her.
Two words sounds like ‘dying stunt’
@Patrick Fitzgibbon: crying grunt?
@Joey Navinski: nope try again
From my brother:
Oh the Grand Old Duke of York
He told 10,000 lies
He abused a bunch of teenage girls
And would not apologise.
And the lies he told were crap.
He grimaced like a clown.
And when on the BBC last night
They hung him upside down…
Apparently he’s heading to Paris for a weekend breakaway from all the hubbub he’s caused.
Mothers suggestion.
Is he still going to Thailand these days???
have your say