Committee accuses BoI Public Interest directors of 'going native'

The Oireachtas Finance Committee has accused the Public Interest Directors of Bank of Ireland of ''stonewalling'' them and ''going native''.

Tom Considine and Joe Walsh have faced a tough questioning by TDs and Senators today, but have failed to answer a number of questions on their roles when it comes to bank bonuses and debt forgiveness.

It has also emerged that they do not report directly to the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, his Department or the Central Bank.

They have also been paid more than a half a million euro each by the bank since their appointment in 2009.

Independent TD Stephen Donnelly asked Tom Considine and Joe Walsh if they agree with Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher, who has ruled out any debt forgiveness, and Chairman of the Committee Labour's Ciaran Lynch was forced to intervene, to try and get an answer.