Sinn Féin: Central Bank Governor 'sat on his hands' with Anglo Tapes

There's renewed pressure on the Governor of the Central Bank over the Anglo Tapes with Sinn Féin declaring in the Dáil that Patrick Honohan "sat on his hands".

The accusations comes after he admitted he had not listened to the tapes but was certain no sufficient new evidence of criminality existed in them.

In the Dáil, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald launched an attack on Honohan.

"Is it not appropriate for the regulator of the bank to make bloody sure that all of the tapes are listened to and scrutinised?" she said.

I would have thought that was the most basic requirement of somebody who would claim to be a regulator."

This morning the Chair of the Finance Committee Ciaran Lynch called on the Governor to clarify the situation and his comments.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, refused to criticise Governor Honohan.

"Bluntly, whether I heard them or [he] heard them is less important than those who are going to make decisions in relation to prosecutions have heard them," he said.

He said he expected those in a position to press charges had listened to all tapes and had examined all data.