Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all share Senator Mooney's concern about the letter to which he referred. It was allegedly marked "secret" and I do not believe it is in the Government's possession to release it. I hope the ECB will make a decision today that the four letters in the series will be released. As the Minister for Finance stated this morning, they will be vital for the banking inquiry which is proceeding. From what I read in Cliff Taylor's report this morning, the Government of the day had no choice. It had a gun to its head. Emergency funding would have been cut off unless we immediately applied for the bailout. The Government had no choice. No Government would have acted differently. The country was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was very difficult. The Governor of the Central Bank spoke at the time, some of which we heard this morning on "Morning Ireland". We should temporarily park it and see what the ECB decides today, after which perhaps it can be revisited. It will be of paramount concern to the banking inquiry. We will have to reflect on how to deal with it. It is not a matter for us today.