Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I begin by wishing the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, a full recovery. This discussion is taking place because Professor Honohan stated at a meeting last December of the Oireachtas Committee on Economic Regulatory Affairs that he wanted an Oireachtas inquiry into the banking situation. The Minister went to great trouble to hire a person of the calibre of Professor Honohan as Governor of the Central Bank, yet rejected his first key recommendation. Professor Honohan asked for the establishment of an Oireachtas committee but that proposal has not been granted. It is not appropriate for the Governor of the Central Bank to conduct an investigation into his own organisation.

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