Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will now call the committee back into session, is that agreed? Agreed. In our public hearing this afternoon is with Mr. Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach. The Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis is now resuming in public session and can I ask members and those in the public Gallery to ensure that their mobile devices are switched off please?

Today we continue our hearings with senior members of the Government who had key roles during the crisis period. This afternoon, we will hear from former Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern. Bertie Ahern was a TD from 1977 until February 2011. He held several senior positions in Government, including that of Minister for Finance. He succeeded John Bruton as Taoiseach in June 1997 and continued to serve as Taoiseach until his resignation in May 2008. Mr. Ahern, you are very welcome before the committee this afternoon.