Taoiseach will ask but cannot force Draghi to give evidence

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has pledged to ask ECB president Mario Draghi to give evidence to the banking inquiry, but insists he cannot force him to attend.

Mr Kenny made the comments after the ECB chief officially turned down the inquiry’s request this week for officials in the Frankfurt-based bank to cooperate with the probe.

Ministers and TDs yesterday criticised the refusal which comes after revelations that the ECB applied pressure on the last government to agree to a financial bailout.