Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Let us explore more about why or why not people in power might be partial to substantial business interests.

In her written submission, Dr. Byrne referred to a culture of deference between State authorities, political parties and elected representatives. She stated: “This culture of deference operated in a context where political parties and individual politicians were especially financially vulnerable." She gave the examples of the Guinness Mahon Bank and the Ansbacher affair and the example of the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey’s indebtedness to Allied Irish Bank and the writing off of substantial debt. Did any other former taoisigh receive favourable treatment from a bank when they were financially vulnerable?