Madam, – Taoiseach Brian Cowen “. . . reiterated his view that there was an onus on the Government to prioritise its work towards a stable banking system, rather than diverting resources into an investigation into how the largest financial institutions were brought to the brink of collapse” (Home News, January 12th).
Does he suggest, therefore, that we continue doing the same things only to learn sometime in the future that the same errors were being repeated yet again?
Perhaps the Taoiseach should read your Editorial on the same day (“Strong Case for Banking Inquiry”), which was, as they say, on the money, reminding us all of some previous issues in Irish banking – issues that would not have been remedied without the Dirt inquiry.
While we await that decision from our Taoiseach, I will make sure my TV licence is paid, lest I am jailed for failure to do so. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Arthur Beesley tells us that, in Iceland, which experts say has experienced a worse financial collapse than Ireland’s, a “report of a powerful parliamentary committee on the banking collapse is due in a few weeks” (World News, January 12th).
On the same day, your own Editorial said there was “a compelling need” for an official inquiry into “the collapse of the banking system” in Ireland.
If the Icelandic government and parliament can get a report out in the next few weeks, why is our Government and parliament so tardy in fulfilling the compelling need to investigate our own banking problems? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – There is a compelling reason to hold a public inquiry into the banking crisis as a matter of urgency: namely, the longer the delay in collecting evidence, the less likely we are to find the truth.
The Moriarty, Mahon and other tribunals of inquiry hit brick walls repeatedly because people had died, such as Des Traynor (Ansbsacher) and Gerry Brennan (Bertie Ahern’s solicitor); because files had gone missing or been destroyed in a fire (as in the case of the Bailey brothers); or, as a last resort, because of amnesia: witnesses claimed to have forgotten after such a long time.
The strategy most consistently used by those with something to hide has been to delay any inquiry.
The Government’s argument that such an inquiry could damage our national reputation itself suggests there is a can of worms to be exposed.
Strategies designed to avoid scandal cause more damage in the long run – as we have seen in the case of the Catholic Church. We need a short, sharp, effective inquiry, and it should begin without delay. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The US Congress has opened its Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in Washington, where it will be asking the chiefs of the nation’s biggest banks about the causes of the crisis.
This contrasts sharply with our Taoiseach’s marked reluctance to have an inquiry here, as it could, he said, go on for years.
Wouldn’t this be an ideal opportunity for a group of our TDs to attend this inquiry as observers, stay in the best hotels, use VIP lounges, naturally, and take chauffeured limos each day?
I am surprised this has not been mooted – yet.
PAT CAULFIELD,
Riverside Drive,
Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.