Inquiry chair guarantees to give people answers

Almost six years on from the banking collapse, an inquiry into what happened is finally in sight. But well before the parliamentary hearings get underway, the inquiry is already the centre of political disagreements and has suffered its first preemptive strike, with one of the key players, former ECB boss Jean-Claude Trichet, declaring that he will not appear.

Inquiry chairman Ciaran Lynch believes there will be many challenges, but is nonetheless optimistic that the banking inquiry — carried out by an Oireachtas committee comprising nine members — can and will give the people some explanations about the events that have had long-lasting consequences.

“There is very little evidence or documentation in the public domain surrounding the events leading up to and including that night,” he said, referring to the middle-of-the-night decision by the Fianna Fáil and Green Party coalition in September 2008 which ultimately cost the State €64bn.