Key bank guarantee official worked with Coalition - Martin

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has launched a blistering attack on Taoiseach Enda Kenny, accusing him of smearing opponents and being the most partisan holder of the office ever.

During a Dáil debate last night on the outcome of last week’s EU summit, Mr Martin said Mr Kenny had become the first Taoiseach of any party to use an EU presidency to play domestic political games.

“The Taoiseach has developed a deserved reputation for being the most partisan ever holder of his office. He finds it impossible to acknowledge the achievements of people from other traditions . . .”

He disputed as “transparent, partisan nonsense” Mr Kenny’s claim there was no information available about the night of the bank guarantee as many records were available in the Department of Finance.

“In the Taoiseach’s case, for an entire year he had at his side the most senior official present during that night. Is the Taoiseach expecting us to believe he never asked him any question about the meetings he attended?”

Mr Martin added the next most senior official in the room that night also worked closely with this government.

Guarantee information
"If the Taoiseach actually believed his own smears, he would have used his complete access to officials and records to put the information into the public. For 2½ years he has done nothing of the sort. Much worse, he has taken no action to put in place any form of independent inquiry to produce the information he says is urgently needed.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that those who the Taoiseach seeks to slur acted in good faith and on the basis of the best available information.”

Mr Martin said he had looked at the record relating to the three previous leaders of Fine Gael who were taoisigh in Irish EU presidencies.

“In no case have I been able to find anything which comes close to the cynical party politics the Taoiseach displayed last week.”

Meanwhile Mr Kenny saidMinister for Finance Michael Noonan will write to the banks today requesting tape recordings be preserved for an inquiry. He confirmed there were tapes in other banks.