TDs warned over commenting about banking inquiry

Minister for Communications and Energy Pat Rabbitte has warned future members of a planned banking inquiry to watch what they say publicly to avoid undermining its integrity.

The Labour TD said it was not acceptable for committee members to come to conclusions before hearings have been completed.

“If members can’t resist a microphone and giving their opinions on what the outcome should be before they ask the questions, that would undermine the inquiry in my view,” he said.

“I think you have to be very careful about members of the committee commenting while an examination is underway.”

While terms of reference for the committee have yet to be drafted the inquiry is expected to commence proceedings in May of this year. Reports have indicated that a key requirement will be that no committee member should have publicly commented on Ireland’s banking crisis in a biased manner.

However, Mr Rabbitte rejected this idea saying he didn’t think there was any “sentient being” in Ireland who doesn’t have a view on the banking crisis

"I do not believe that because [POLITICIANS]have expressed a view on the collapse of the banking system that it disqualifies them," he told RTÉ Radio.

“But if they have made intemperate or vituperative personal allegations or expressed their convictions about personalities in florid terms...then I think they would be better to disqualify themselves.”

He also said that if there is any member of Dáil Éireann who hasn’t “expressed a view on the banking collapse and the hardship it has visited on people, I think he or she shouldn’t be a member of Dáil Éireann”.

The Minister added that he didn’t “see any prospect” of an inquiry starting before May.