Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which an effective and legally robust parliamentary banking inquiry will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/13]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to establish an inquiry into the events in the days and weeks leading up to the State bank guarantee scheme, the crisis which emerged in the banking sector in Ireland and the political response to this crisis; when he envisages such an inquiry being established; the mechanism which could be used to conduct such an inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17174/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 533 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, I strongly support the objective of undertaking an effective and legally robust parliamentary banking inquiry. I wish to advise the Deputies that the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2012 is currently at an advanced stage in the drafting process and I expect to present the Bill to Government for publication in the coming weeks.

The Bill envisages a central role for the Oireachtas in both initiating and conducting a parliamentary inquiry. Under the Bill, responsibility is assigned exclusively to the Houses of the Oireachtas to determine the requirement for a formal inquiry, the terms of reference of that inquiry, the appropriate committee to conduct an inquiry and the procedural and organisational aspects of the inquiry.

The Bill contains extensive provisions in relation to fair procedures and the conduct of members of committees to avoid any perception of bias. Additionally, inquiries conducted under this statutory scheme will be governed by and subject to guidelines that may be issued by the Houses of the Oireachtas.