Taoiseach refuses to say if he backs Oireachtas probe into banking crisis

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen refused to say last night whether he believed an Oireachtas probe into the banking crisis was merited.

Mr Cowen is under increasing pressure to support the holding of such an inquiry to determine what went wrong at the banks.

But he has refused to indicate whether he will facilitate the establishment of the inquiry, which could present political difficulties for him.