Brian Cowen: ‘No question of overruling Lenihan’

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen last night said there was never any question of his overruling finance minister Brian Lenihan’s views at the time of the State bank guarantee of 2008.

However, he accepted mistakes were made at the time, saying the Government had to deal with the reality of the situation and available information “to make sure the economy didn’t implode”.

Mr Cowen also said he was looking forward to attending the banking inquiry, probably in July, having been asked to do so earlier this week.