Green Party finance spokesman offered resignation
Cork Senator Dan Boyle offered to resign as Green Party finance spokesman last week over concerns about the planned banking inquiry, it has emerged.
Senator Boyle today confirmed he had offered his resignation to party leader John Gormley, but it had not been accepted.
He expressed concerns over how the Government had handled and presented the decision to set up the banking inquiry.
Senator Boyle said he had a long conversation with Green Party leader John Gormley, at which he was told that the final decision on the enquiry had not been made and that the final structure of the enquiry was not yet in place.
He added that he felt the wrong message had gone out from Government about the inquiry.
âThe inquiry is going to be a lot more open than has been portrayed, and the involvement of an Oireachtas committee is going to be very important,â he said, adding that he expects the committee to be set up within the next fortnight.
That Oireachtas committee will work on the scoping report for the inquiry, along with the governor of the Central Bank and the financial expert just appointed by the State.
Senator Boyle believes that this mechanism will ensure that the inquiry is as transparent and open as possible.
He said that the Oireachtas committee would significantly influence the terms of reference of the inquiry. Senator Boyle refused to be drawn on what his resignation would have meant for his party, and its participation in Government.
He also refused to say if he would still resign if the final structures of the inquiry were not as open as he hoped for.
âI didnât pursue my resignation. I offered it and it wasnât accepted,â he said.
However, it is not yet clear if Senator Boyle can sit on the Oireachtas committee which will go about setting the terms of reference of the banking inquiry â Senators are not allowed to sit on certain kinds of Oireachtas committees and even as party Finance spokesman, Senator Boyle might not be entitled to be on the committee.
