Howlin rejects claim of bank probe ‘muzzle’

Public Sector Reform Minister Brendan Howlin has rejected claims the Government is trying to “muzzle” a long-awaited probe into the banking collapse.

Mr Howlin denied a bitter Government turf war was raging behind the scenes as to which Dáil committee would finally seek the truth over what happened on the night the bank guarantee was imposed — saddling the country with more than €64bn in debt.

The minister hit back at claims from Public Accounts Committee chairperson John McGuinness that Finance Department officials are trying limit the effectiveness of an investigation.