Experts needed for banking inquiry

I wrote in Nov 2011 that the Oireachtas Referendum should be put to the people again with clarification re (1) people having recourse to the courts following an investigation, and (2) clarifying what (extreme) circumstances needed to be in place before investigators could enter a person’s home to seek out/remove possible evidence and (3) clarifying what made an issue qualify for being, “in the public interest”.

I feel the referendum would have succeeded then if people were not scared by the lack of clarity re the above. I also believe that the referendum should be put to the people again in conjunction with the other referenda mooted, with such clarifications having been made. The ensuing investigations into banking, etc, should use the expertise of forensic accountants etc who understand complex financial issues.

The number of investigators of white collar crime should be increased and their resources enhanced. If the perpetrators of the banking debacle are brought to justice it would go some way to restoring our good name with our European neighbours.

It would demonstrate our revulsion as a nation with what went on in Anglo, the Regulator’s Office and the Dept of Finance. Most of those in Fianna Fáil had no clue as to the full story of what was going on by the “Masters of the Universe” in these places. With all due respect, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan are ex-teachers. Give the experts who have the know-how to sort this mess out the power and resources to do it. We should follow the example set by CAB.

Joe Heffernan

Mallow

Co Cork