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Catherine Murphy saw "positive engagement" in pre-inquiry meeting, as Noonan prepares to suggest changes to terms of reference at cabinet

The TD whose allegations led to a Commission of Inquiry into IBRC has welcomed what she says is a...
Newstalk
Newstalk

07.17 8 Jun 2015


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Catherine Murphy saw "...

Catherine Murphy saw "positive engagement" in pre-inquiry meeting, as Noonan prepares to suggest changes to terms of reference at cabinet

Newstalk
Newstalk

07.17 8 Jun 2015


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The TD whose allegations led to a Commission of Inquiry into IBRC has welcomed what she says is a "positive engagement" by the Government.

Catherine Murphy was speaking after a meeting with Michael Noonan to discuss the terms of reference for the inquiry.

Opposition TDs want the inquiry to have a broader remit, and investigate relationships between the bank and the Department of Finance.

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Noonan will suggest changes to the terms of reference for the inquiry at cabinet tomorrow.

Deputy Murphy says her meeting with Michael Noonan was a good one - and some of her concerns have been dealt with:

The Commission of Investigation will examine all write-offs at IBRC worth more than €10 million - as well as any special interest rates which resulted in borrowers saving over €4m.

The meeting came following reports the minister will come under pressure to widen the scope of the inquiry and to publish an interim report before the end of the year.

However, sources within the Department of Finance have played down the prospect of interim reports from the inquiry, saying it may be impossible to isolate some issues.

That argument is not accepted by Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald:

Meanwhile Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin says the inquiry needs to examine the government's claim that it wasn't informed about IBRC's actions before 2012:

Opposition leaders have accused the Government of trying to shut down debate over IBRC's financial dealings until after the General Election - but also called for terms of reference to be extended.

Once underway, the inquiry will investigate all write-offs at IBRC worth €10m or more - including the sale of SiteServ to the businessman Denis O'Brien.

It will also investigate allegations raised by Deputy Murphy about any preferential interest rates offered to borrowers.

After this evening's talks, the terms of reference will likely be signed off tomorrow, before a debate in the Dáil.

Catherine Murphy - who claimed in the Dáil that Denis O’Brien enjoyed what she called favourable interest rates of 1.25 per cent on expired loans with IBRC - spoke to Jonathan Healy on today's Pat Kenny Show about the inquiry and today's meeting with the Finance Minister.

She told Jonathan that one of the key things she wants to see changed is for the investigation to go beyond the liquidation of the bank in 2013 and cover more recent deals involving the bank's liquidators.

The TD stressed "that there was always going to be losses" during the liquidation process, including 'significant losses' to the State on the SiteServ deal. However she says that her job is to make sure "the State got the optimum, because after all it's the people's money".

Sinn Féin’s Deputy President says there would be "considerable public disquiet" if the inquiry into IBRC fails to report back on SiteServ and Denis O’Brien by the end of October.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Mary Lou McDonald says the public wants to see an interim report on those issues before the end of the year.

She started by telling Ivan she will asking the Finance Minister about the timeline of the inquiry, and raising concerns about the €10m threshold for the investigation, which she says is "too high." She also suggested that the Department of Finance's relationship with IBRC should be part of the inquiry.

You can listen back below:

Originally posted at 7.13am


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