Labour demands Garda investigation into Anglo scandal
Party leader Eamon Gilmore demanded the move as he promised to turn-up opposition heat against the Government.
He said it was unacceptable that those responsible for doing such damage to the bank’s reputation would be allowed to “walk off into the sunset”.
Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick resigned last month after it was revealed he had concealed loans to himself which at one point totalled €129m.
The scandal hit the bank’s reputation to such an extent it had to be nationalised this week to avoid collapse.
Mr Gilmore attacked the Government’s attitude to the secret loans as he demanded the bank be used as part of a national recovery plan to allow capital and credit to flow easily to crippled small businesses.
Mr Gilmore also wants a “land bank” set-up to acquire disused properties across the country and use them for the benefit of the community. The Labour leader said the national plan was needed to boost the economy, return confidence to consumers and restore credibility.
Mr Gilmore dismissed talk of a national government, but stopped short of ruling out a coalition with Fianna Fáil after the next general election.
Labour also pledged to embarrass Brian Cowen into finally holding a by-election for the vacant Dublin South seat by moving the writ themselves.
The Government has been putting off holding the poll since the death of former Cabinet Minister Seamus Brennan last July.
It is usual Dáil procedure for the party whose TD vacates a seat to move the writ for the by-election, but Mr Gilmore insisted the Government would need to be forced into setting a date for the poll.
TDs will then have to vote on the move, forcing the Government to show its hand.
A by-election is also pending in the Dublin Central seat after the death of Independent TD Tony Gregory earlier this month, but Labour says it is too soon to move that writ.
