Government to announce banking inquiry

THE Government will today announce an inquiry into the causes of the banking crisis, but a significant portion of the investigative work is expected to take place behind closed doors.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan will bring proposals for an inquiry to a meeting of Cabinet before informing the Dáil this afternoon of the format which his colleagues have agreed upon.

Mr Lenihan and Taoiseach Brian Cowen held separate meetings with Green Party leader John Gormley yesterday as the coalition partners continued their discussion of the issue.