Greens: 'Irish Nationwide's Fingleton must quit and repay'

Irish Nationwide Building Society Chief Executive Michael Fingleton must resign immediately - and also repay money he should never have got, Green Party chairman, and finance spokesperson Senator Dan Boyle said today.

Senator Boyle said Mr Fingleton's conduct "was a disgrace and his failure to hand back bonus payments showed contempt for all Irish citizens".

Mr Fingleton's "€28m personal pension arrangements only compound these facts," said Mr Boyle.

"Michael Fingleton has come to personify all that is wrong with Irish banking. That he has remained so long in position while others have fallen on their swords is a complete mystery. He should not continue in that position of trust in what is after all, supposed to be a mutual society.

"Mr Fingleton has run the Irish Nationwide Building Society like his own personal fiefdom. His conduct shows little care for savers and homeowners who have placed considerable faith - and in some cases placed their life's chances and the fortunes of their families - in the care of that institution.

"A week has gone by since we learned that Mr Fingleton was the only bank boss to receive a pay-rise last year, bringing his salary to €1m, in spite of Irish taxpayers now being exposed to the tune of hundreds of billions to underwite reckless banks.

"Since then we have heard nothing - Fingleton of all people must now go."