Cowen braces for impact of bank reports

THE Government is bracing itself for a torrent of blame as it publishes two reports into the banking crisis, one of which is expected to criticise Brian Cowen’s budgetary policy during the boom.

The preliminary reports will form the basis for a full inquiry into the crisis, and the opposition last night raised the pressure on Mr Cowen to testify publicly at that inquiry. As the political knives were sharpened ahead of the reports’ publication, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Mr Cowen would have to be “publicly accountable” for his actions.

Similarly, Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said the Taoiseach’s response to the reports would “reveal a lot” about Mr Cowen.