Renua claims Government making excuses over IBRC controversy

Renua is accusing the Government of using "the dog ate my homework" excuse in relation to the recent controversy at IBRC.

The accusation comes after the Finance Minister Michael Noonan admitted his Department did have documents from IBRC on the sale of SiteServ, after previously saying the Department had never received them.

Opposition parties are urging the Government to widen the scope of the inquiry into IBRC.

Renua TD Billy Timmins - formerly an Independent and Fine Gael TD - said the Government must allow a full and frank debate in the Dáil.

"It's quite staggering to believe that 20 years after the beef tribunal … that we appear to have learned nothing," he said.

"Why we can't give clear, honest and fulsome answers [to Dáil questions] is beyond me.

"A number of people have spent a long period of time trying to extract this information with great difficulty. So it's important that all the information is put into the public domain."