Leo Varadkar reserves judgment on video-link evidence

A minister has questioned whether the banking inquiry should hear evidence from David Drumm via video link, amid growing criticism the probe would be facilitating the former Anglo boss who has refused to co-operate with gardaí and authorities.

Leo Varadkar, the health minister, said he was in two minds as to whether Mr Drumm’s offer to contribute by video from the US should be accepted.

It has yet to be decided whether Mr Drumm would be sworn in under oath or whether his evidence could be tested by committee members during a video call.

Mr Drumm — who refuses to return to Ireland to be questioned on Anglo by gardaí — is also set to contradict Brian Cowen’s evidence to the inquiry by saying the former taoiseach was lobbied about banking issues relating to the guarantee.

Mr Varadkar yesterday told RTÉ he was reserving judgment on the inquiry. However, he also shared concerns about the taking of Mr Drumm’s proposed evidence by video.

“I would really like to hear what [Mr] Drumm has to say because it conflicts with what Brian Cowen said at the inquiry, but of course it’s going to be just hearsay, he won’t be able to back it up with evidence. I’m sure he didn’t record any conversations,” said Mr Varadkar.

“We would then be facilitating someone who at the same time the authorities are trying to extradite.”

A decision on hearing the video evidence has split the inquiry, with TDs Michael McGrath, Eoghan Murphy, and Joe Higgins, and senators Michael D’Arcy and Seán Barrett said to be opposing the move.

Mr Murphy is also ready to face being kicked out of the probe if the video evidence is agreed to and he refuses to go along with it, Oireachtas sources said.

“Why give him special privilege? There are legal risks, but there’s also the principle of it. It risks undermining the Oireachtas and affecting public opinion in it,” he said.

Mr Murphy opposed the inquiry accepting Mr Drumm’s written statement at a meeting last week. His position on Mr Drumm’s evidence has hardened since then, sources say.

“The inquiry’s already in choppy water for accepting Drumm’s statement. It’s been reported, it’s in the public domain. Another witness could challenge it,” said a source.

It is understood that the committee was warned last week by its legal advisors that taking Mr Drumm’s evidence this way could create grounds for a judicial review by anyone adversely mentioned in it.

Mr McGrath told RTÉ on Saturday that it was “just not acceptable” that Mr Drumm be afforded the opportunity to give video-link evidence.

The inquiry also faces criticism from a whistle-blower who alleges some bodies, including the Department of Finance and Central Bank, were given preferential treatment by the probe.

It was reported at the weekend that one allegation from the whistleblower is that an inquiry official, who was deciding on what bank documents would be entered into evidence, has gone on to work with Bank of Ireland. An Oireachtas spokesman would not comment yesterday but said anyone hired went through a “conflict of interest process”.

A barrister has already been asked to investigate all the whistleblower’s claims.