FF says Lenihan’s personal files should be accessible

Personal files belonging to the late Brian Lenihan, the former finance minister, should be able to be released by his family to facilitate a planned inquiry into the banking crisis, Fianna Fáil has said.

Party leader Micheál Martin said yesterday that any files relating to his work as minister should be accessible. Mr Lenihan’s family have yet to decide on whether to release his personal papers, a decision which is understood to be “sensitive” for them.

Mr Martin, who was in cabinet with Mr Lenihan in the last government, said: “The distinction between personal and private papers is a bit of a misnomer. All documentation relating to a minister’s activities is available for discovery under Freedom of Information, bar too sensitive issues in the normal course of events.