Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

When the then Minister, Deputy Cowen, was nominated to become Taoiseach, he attended a function with the board of Anglo Irish Bank in April 2008. When we asked a question on this in the Dáil, the Taoiseach said that this was a long-standing dinner engagement with Anglo Irish Bank and that it had no relevance to this situation. I take the Taoiseach at his word in what he said, but he has now been directly contradicted by a former director of Anglo Irish Bank. He states: "He was acutely aware of our problems. The conversation at that dinner was interesting. The big man has been less than truthful about it."

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