Warning row will damage banking inquiry

The launch of the long awaited Oireachtas inquiry into the banking collapse has been postponed until next month.

The nine-member probe was due to start tomorrow, but has been halted due to a bitter row about whether a Fianna Fáil senator can sit on the committee.

The Coalition is scrambling to gain a majority on the investigation after farcical scenes saw the Government fail to get its preferred nominee, senator Susan O’Keeffe, onto the committee after she and a fellow Labour member failed to show up for the collective making the decision.