Cowen: Inquiry will be no 'whitewash'

The Taoiseach said he has no problem giving evidence to the banking inquiry in public if that is how the Commission of Investigation decides to do it.

Once the Commission is established it has the right to hold any of its hearings in public.

Brian Cowen also said the Opposition is only claiming the banking inquiry is a "whitewash" because it won't deal with their "wild allegations".

And he said the claims from Fine Gael and Labour that there will be no accountability are "patent nonsense".

Mr Cowen said the Opposition is just playing political games.

"The suggestion that the inquiry is a whitewash because hearings will be in private makes no sense," he said.

"It is the findings and recommendations that are of importance."