Minister 'does not have right' to names in Anglo deal

THE MINISTER for Finance had no right to the names of the people involved in the €300 million loan-for-shares deal with Anglo Irish Bank, the Tánaiste insisted.

Mary Coughlan said the names were not contained in any report to Brian Lenihan, adding that, as a shareholder, he had no right to the information.

“The shareholder in any bank does not have a right to information about customers of that bank.

“It would completely undermine the confidence of customers generally in Anglo Irish Bank and, therefore, confidence in the bank if the Minister, as a shareholder, could obtain access to confidential information about customers.”

It was important to say for clarity, said Ms Coughlan, that the names would not be available in the public domain.

“However, it is equally important to say, as the Taoiseach indicated in answers to this House on a number of occasions, as did two colleagues of mine last night and earlier this morning, that neither the Taoiseach nor any member of this Cabinet, nor, for that matter, any member of this House, in any way wants to deter from due process.

“At the same time it is very important that, arising from that due process, the full rigour of the law will be applied.’’

The Tánaiste was responding to the Opposition on the Order of Business. Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said he understood that the annual report of Anglo Irish Bank and the PricewatershousCoopers report, or at least a version of it, would be published today. He asked if they would be told the names of the 10 investors in either report.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin sought an assurance that there would be full disclosure of the identity of “the 10 green bottles hanging on the wall”.

Ms Coughlan said the part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report referring to Anglo Irish Bank would be laid before the Oireachtas library as was normal.

“I am not familiar with what is in it, but I have been advised on the issue of whether the names of the people in question will be disclosed in the report. The names of the 10 persons were not disclosed. They were not disclosed to the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance.”