Spotlight on bankers - Nama/AIB must act

Dramatic US Senate revelations about shadowy money laundering at HSBC bank have put the spotlight on two of the highest profile figures in the world of Irish finance — Michael Geoghegan, appointed by Finance Minister Michael Noonan as chairman of the Nama Advisory Group, and David Hodgkinson, chairman of AIB.

Asked to comment, Nama declined to make a statement. AIB said Mr Hodgkinson was not a person of interest in the inquiry, that there was nothing for the bank to consider, and it had no concerns over the naming of its chairman in the Senate report.

Public interest demands that clear and unambiguous statements be issued by Nama and AIB to clear the air, remove any question of doubt in the public mind, and ensure their reputations are untarnished.