Coalition must accept blame for how bank inquiry has become such a farce

Political Editor Daniel McConnell assesses how the banking inquiry has ended up in such a state as some TDs refuse to sign off on a final report that was always destined to be toothless

“ON February 25, a democratic revolution took place in Ireland. Old beliefs, traditions, and expectations were blown away. The stroke of a pen, in thousands of polling stations, created this political whirlwind. The public demanded change and looked to parties that would deliver the change they sought.”

The above is the opening paragraph of the 2011 programme for government agreed between Fine Gael and Labour as they took over the reins of power.