Kenny and Burton told to appear at banking inquiry

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton will today be told they must attend a banking inquiry grilling in late July over the roles of Fine Gael and Labour in the 2008 economic crash.

The Coalition party leaders will be named on the final witness list this afternoon alongside former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, ex-tánaiste Mary Harney, former Green Party leader John Gormley, and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton. Former taoiseach Brian Cowen and ex-finance minister Charlie McCreevy have already been told to attend.

While the other politicians’ attendance has long been flagged, the plan to haul in the head of Government and two senior ministers was only recently put to the inquiry, leading to claims it is an attempt to spread the blame.