Party leaders clash over banking crisis

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has accused Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny of trying to "personally smear" him, and of revising the history of how the economic crisis developed.

In the Dáil this morning, Deputy Kenny hit out at Mr Cowen, accusing him of not defending the taxpayer when he was Minister for Finance.

The Fine Gael leader cited a bankers' dinner organised by Anglo Irish Bank and attended by Mr Cowen in 2008, saying he knew at that stage the crisis the country faced.

But the Taoiseach hit back, saying he rejected the comments from Enda Kenny and treated them "with contempt".

"That's precisely your problem," Deputy Kenny retorted. "You also treat the citizens of this country with contempt."

Meanwhile Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said this morning he "hates" Anglo Irish Bank and the state it is in.

Some €4bn was injected into Anglo last year, a further €8bn yesterday, and the Finance Minister says it may yet need another €10bn of taxpayers' money.

Anglo is expected to announce the highest ever loss by an Irish company when it publishes results this week.

Minister Ryan spoke of his frustration at dealing with the fallout of bad decisions at the bank, but said winding Anglo up still is not the right way to go.