Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16: Connacht’s poor record at the Arms Park continued last evening when they lost their grip on the lead of the Guinness Pro12 to a dogged Cardiff Blues.

A senior economist who attended the infamous Brian Cowen-Anglo golf outing and was the only expert the then taoiseach called on the night of the guarantee has insisted he had no role in decisions about the firm.

Senior Department of Finance officials made “discreet” inquiries about how Ireland could enter a bailout as early as October 2008, the banking inquiry has heard.

Where was Johnny Logan when his country needed him most, asks Michael Clifford.

Then taoiseach Brian Cowen set up a “secret” group to examine a possible bank guarantee months before it happened — and as bankers and billionaires were actively lobbying for the move.

TWO sobering but illustrative events played out simultaneously yesterday. Each showed how powerless democratically elected, supposedly sovereign, governments can be in the face of unflinching international creditors or too-big-to-fail banks tottering towards collapse asking — demanding if you prefer — that they be rescued with public funds.

Gardaí are set to investigate the high-profile leaking of detailed bank inquiry evidence from former Department of Finance secretary general Kevin Cardiff in a move which could potentially see the person responsible fined €500,000 or jailed for a maximum of five years.

The row between then taoiseach Brian Cowen and his finance minister, Brian Lenihan, on the night of the bank guarantee concerned whether or not to include Anglo Irish Bank in the cover, the banking inquiry will be told on Thursday.

Concerns have been raised over a deliberate attempt to “undermine” the Oireachtas banking probe following a major leak of evidence.

IRELAND’S member of the European Court of Auditors Kevin Cardiff was in charge of the Department of Finance unit that had oversight of banks on that fateful, generation-defining and expensive night — September 29th/30th 2008, “guarantee night” as it has become known.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen “already had a preference” for a “broad” bank guarantee before the infamous September 29, 2008, meeting which led to the multi-billion euro deal — and overruled then finance minister Brian Lenihan’s concerns.

A state body specifically tasked with giving technical financial advice to the Government was locked out of discussions with ministers on the night of the bank guarantee, and had just “90 seconds” to raise concerns.

Close to €500m of EU funds spent on fish farms was largely wasted, according to a report highly critical of the sector.

There are big gaps in keeping account of what happens the EU’s €140bn a year budget and it is time the auditing system was overhauled and extended, according to a report from the European Court of Auditors.

A senior Department of Finance official was told in July 2008 that there could be some lending by Anglo Irish Bank to buy its own shares but that it would be “short term”.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

The EU will be seeking to recoup about €5bn from member states after the European Court of Auditors says the rules were not followed in schemes worth about 4% of money spent last year.

Consultants Deloitte initially demanded over €166,000 for a 37-page report on the Government’s €3.6bn accounting error, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed.

Consultants Deloitte are being paid €61,500 to carry out a review into the €3.6bn accounting error recorded at the Department of Finance.

The recruitment process for the post of secretary general at the Department of Finance cost €85,000 — with the post finally going to an internal candidate.

There is a raft of helicopters at the ready to transport EU leaders to their summit today if the road from the airport is blocked due to a general strike by Belgian unions.

VETERAN Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa is to quit his post next month after nearly 13 years in Brussels.

THE secretary general of the Department of Finance, Kevin Cardiff was cleared to become a member of the EU Court of Auditors by the European Parliament amid claims of political abuse and intimidation by some MEPs.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg today voted to support the nomination of Kevin Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors.

The Government'ss nominee to the European Court of Auditors Kevin Cardiff looks set to have his appointment ratified today despite an early setback.

The main political grouping in the European Parliament has backed the nomination of Kevin Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors.

THE President of the European Court of Auditors has accepted an apology from Ireland’s member over emails lobbying against Kevin Cardiff.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has said the €3.6 billion accounting error which tripped up Kevin Cardiff’s bid to sit on the European Court of Auditors should not be enough to prevent him taking the job.

THE nomination of Kevin Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors looks certain to be decided by a full sitting of the European Parliament in three weeks’ time.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has reiterated the Government's support for Kevin Cardiff to be appointed to the European Court of Auditors.

A DESPERATE scramble to salvage the Government’s bid to plant Kevin Cardiff in a plum EU post saw the release of an explosive email that threw his nomination into fresh controversy.

TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore has denied that Labour “hijacked” the outgoing Irish member of the European Court of Auditors, Eoin O’Shea.

THE debacle of Kevin Cardiff’s rejection for the Court of Auditors leaves the Government with a series of options, each one more messy than the other and in danger of re-opening the debate in Europe on the country’s handling of the financial crisis.

A reminder of just how brutal politics can be, says Political Editor, Paul O’Brien

Kevin Cardiff has said there are many more people than he, with a lot more at stake, awaiting the outcome of job interviews, and that the focus should be on getting the economy running again.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have expressed their disappointment at comments contained in an email from the out-going Irish representative on the European Court of Auditors about the man in line for the job, Kevin Cardiff.

The outgoing Irish representative on the European Court of Auditors wrote an email criticising Kevin Cardiff, his proposed replacement, it has emerged.

The Government is to challenge MEPs who rejected its nomination of a senior finance chief to a top job in Europe, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has claimed.

The Cabinet will today discuss the decision of MEPs to reject the Government's nominee to the European Court of Auditors.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has refused to say if the Government will proceed with Kevin Cardiff’s nomination to a lucrative EU post after he was rejected at a key stage of the process.

The European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee has rejected by one vote the appointment of Kevin Cardiff to the European Court of Auditors.

MEPs have received an unprecedented amount of emails lobbying over the Government’s controversial nominee to a top auditing body in Europe, it was revealed today.

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he still supports the former head of the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff for a top job in Europe.

Kevin Cardiff will today face questions over his suitability for a job at the European Court of Auditors.