Lenihan refuses to clarify Gormley statement on bank guarantee

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan will not present further clarification of the circumstances surrounding the issuing of the €440 billion blanket bank guarantee in September 2008.

A Department of Finance spokeswoman said the minister had already explained the background to the decision to a Dáil committee and would not respond to calls for him to clarify statements made by Environment Minister John Gormley that the guarantee had been agreed a full day prior to that previously claimed.

In the interview on RTÉ radio last Saturday, the Green Party leader said the proposal had been discussed “in some detail” at a Sunday, September 28 cabinet meeting, more than a day before the Government claims it was bounced into the decision by the possible collapse of Anglo Irish Bank late on Monday, September 29.