Drumm insists Anglo discussed during dinner with Cowen

Former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm has insisted he discussed banking issues with former taoiseach Brian Cowen at a board dinner.

In an interview published on Friday, Mr Drumm said he had a very clear recollection of the conversation that took place with the former taoiseach in April 2008.

Mr Drumm and Mr Cowen have contradictory recollections of what was discussed at the meeting.

Speaking at the banking inquiry yesterday, former non-executive director of Anglo Fintan Drury said he couldn’t be certain of what was discussed between the two men.

However, he insisted everything bar banking was talked about by the board at the dinner.

In an interview with Irish Central Mr Drumm said: "I noticed today [on Thursday]that Fintan Drury, former bank director, appeared to contradict my evidence about my conversation with Brian Cowen at the April 2008 dinner.

“In fact there is no contradiction - the conversation with Brian was one-to-one, he was sitting beside me at the dinner, to my right.

“Fintan is correct when he says there was no ‘general’ discussion around the table as it were about Anglo’s issues specifically, but as you would expect there was much discussion about the turmoil in the financial markets and the threats to Ireland from it.

“I stand over the facts of what transpired that night and I have very clear recollection of it, as I was not accustomed to having dinner with Ministers let alone with an incoming taoiseach.”

Mr Drumm has produced a written statement to the committee, which has yet to be published, due to concerns from the Direction of Public Prosecutions that it may prejudice future legal proceedings.

The former chief executive claims in the correspondence he asked Mr Cowen to directly intervene with the National Treasury Management Agency to increase the level of deposits held with Anglo Irish Bank.

Mr Drumm alleges Mr Cowen said he had intervened with the NTMA but nothing had changed.

In his evidence to the committee, Mr Cowen said the event was a purely social occasion and no business was discussed.

In the interview Mr Drumm said he sat next to Mr Cowen and the two spoke privately.

He said the pair discussed the difficulties in the financial markets at that time.

Mr Drumm also referred to Mr Drury as an advisor to Mr Cowen in the interview.

Speaking before the Dáil inquiry yesterday, Mr Drury confirmed he had helped the former Fianna Fáil leader write speeches.

Mr Drury, who was a former non-executive director of Anglo, said they were friends since college and were in regular contact over the years.

However he said they never discussed matters of Anglo policy or government business.

He told the inquiry: “I had no discussion with Brian Cowen, either in his time as Minister for Finance or in his time as Taoiseach, in regard to the affairs of Anglo Irish Bank.”