Coalition majority on bank inquiry needed, says Kenny

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil the Government must have a majority on the banking inquiry for it to proceed, in a move Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described as "extraordinary".

During heated exchanges in which the House was suspended, Mr Kenny insisted that for the terms of reference of the inquiry into the banking crisis to be agreed and its mandate to be adopted the Government had to have a majority on the nine-member committee.

Mr Martin accused him of “Government interference”. The committee was due to commence preliminary work today.

‘Terms of reference’ The Fianna Fáil leader asked if Mr Kenny realised how he was undermining the impartiality of the committee and

said the Taoiseach was “going to dictate the terms of reference”.

Mr Kenny said that “in order for terms of reference to be adopted and for a mandate to be given the Government need to have a majority here and that matter is being considered now by the Senate”.

When Mr Martin insisted the committee had been chosen, Mr Kenny replied: “The committee can’t adopt terms of reference unless you have a approval from the committee. How do I know what your members will do? I don’t know.”

Independent TD Stephen Donnelly said "the committee's terms of reference are not the business of the Executive".

Mr Martin told Mr Kenny “you are saying the Government wants to dominate the committee and decide the terms of reference if you don’t get your own way there won’t be any terms of reference.”

House suspended Ceann Comhairle Se

an Barrett ruled him out of order and the House was briefly suspended.

The Government had expected to have a majority on the inquiry into the banking crisis but at a meeting of the Seanad committee of selection last week Labour Party nominee Susan O’Keeffe failed to attend and the committee voted for Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry and Independent Seán Barrett as the two Seanad nominees.

Subsequently Seanad Leader Maurice Cummins sought to have the issue referred to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges because of a possible conflict of interest for Senator MacSharry, but refused to reveal the nature of the conflict. He later withdrew his remarks.

Mr Martin said in the Dáil that row “relates to the fact that the Government wants a majority on the inquiry”.