Common sense should be applied when using comments of the past to measure any bias of TDs and senators who will sit on the committee carrying out the banking inquiry, according to its chairman, Labour’s Ciarán Lynch.

The Oireachtas banking inquiry will "inevitably descend into a show trial", Shane Ross has warned.

THE long-awaited banking inquiry is at the centre of a political row before it even gets under way, with Fianna Fáil warning that the Government wants to keep its scope as narrow as possible for “political advantage”.

Banking probe chief Ciarán Lynch emerged victorious in a bitter Dáil turf war to run the high profile inquiry, but now faces a fresh fight to prove he is no Government stooge.

Millions of euro of taxpayers’ monies have been wasted by government departments on exorbitant debit and credit card transaction fees despite warnings to change, a senior TD has revealed.

Pharmacists should be kept informed when a customer’s medical card is up for review to avoid cases where people find themselves suddenly without the entitlement.