Drumm should not be allowed to use video link

The declaration by David Drumm, former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank that he would deliberate to the banking inquiry by video link is an outrageous display of condescension and disrespect toward the Irish public and a mischievous instance of self-serving manipulation.

The modus operandi of this Oireachtas Inquiry is to examine the sworn testimony of witnesses and to cross-examine their evidence in person.

Drumm’s suggestion follows the precedent last April when members of the banking inquiry team were reduced to asking questions submitted in advance to Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank at the premises of the Institute of International and European Affairs, following a lecture by him.

Dealing with the inquiry strictly on his own terms was couched by Trichet in the context of the ECB being only accountable to the European Parliament; inferring that the accountability obligations and inquiries of sovereign parliaments throughout the Eurozone are of no consequence, relevance or concern, to the leadership of the ECB.

It would appear public opinion is sceptical about the capacity of the banking inquiry to achieve anything of enduring value. But if the stature, protocols and procedures of our parliament and its institutions are to be disregarded by the peremptory whims of witnesses, what will this lead to — unchallenged evidence, gossip and hearsay being adduced through a megaphone by a corpus of politicians and being admitted as legitimate substance to an inquiry report?

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co Dublin