Enterprise Ireland to meet Quinn Group, says Cowen

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has asked senior management at Enterprise Ireland to meet the troubled Quinn Group to try to “bring matters forward”.

Mr Cowen has confirmed he spoke with Seán Quinn last Thursday night “at Mr Quinn’s request”.

During the conversation, Mr Quinn “reiterated directly to the Taoiseach the points he had made in his television interview earlier that evening”, according to a Government statement.

The Taoiseach pointed out the High Court had appointed joint provisional administrators to Quinn Insurance following an application by the Financial Regulator, who acts independently in such matters.

The regulator asked the court to appoint provisional administrators last week over serious concerns about the ability of Quinn Insurance to meet liabilities covering its policyholders.

Mr Cowen was focused on finding a solution to the difficulties faced by the Quinn Group, the statement said.

“The Taoiseach has asked the chairman and chief executive of Enterprise Ireland to meet with representatives of the group to see if they can be of any assistance,” said the statement.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters at the annual Easter Rising commemoration in Dublin, Mr Cowen said people were being brought together to see whether it was possible to “bring matters forward”. He added: “It is about trying to focus on seeing if we can find a solution.”

Mr Cowen said he had not been in touch with the regulator in any respect since the court order was made.

“Obviously, we have to respect everyone’s function here, and, from my point of view, it is to look at the employment situation and see in what way we can try and find a solution . . . rather than a critique of where we are at the minute,” he added.

The Taoiseach said it was important to focus on a solution and “get the parties . . . the Quinn group and the people they are dealing with, to try and see if there is a way forward here”. There was a concern, he said, for the people who worked in the group.

Opposition parties said every effort should be made to ensure jobs were preserved, but stressed the regulator had acted correctly.

Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan said: “It would appear that the regulator has acted on the basis of information to his office, and I would have thought that matters should take their course.” He said it would be “unwise” to be critical of the Financial Regulator’s actions in relation to Quinn.

A Labour spokesman said the regulator “had no option but to act”. He said the party was “concerned about jobs”, adding: “We wouldn’t be critical of the regulator at all.”