MICHAEL O’REGAN

It was common knowledge that bankers and well-off serving and former civil servants were hiring lawyers to challenge the proposed Oireachtas inquiry into the banking collapse, Independent TD Shane Ross told the Dail.

Warning that the inquiry would not work, he said he could not think of any Oireachtas member who had not already stated quite categorically what he or she felt about the underlying issues involved. Neither could he think of one who had not made statements, almost always in the negative, which would mean witnesses going to the Four Courts to injunct the inquiry.

He said that the inquiry would inevitably lead to grandstanding by politicians. “We will all do it, if it is necessary, in front of the cameras.’’

Mr Ross was speaking during the resumed debate on the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill which passed all stages.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said the Government had been working on the Bill for a considerable length of time to structure a framework for the holding of constitutional inquiries. It was overarching legislation which covered inquiries relating to the impeachment of judges and the President, should it arise, as well as into legislation and on the gathering and presenting of facts.

“I know people are motivated to focus on things because of the latest news cycle, but that is not what is intended here.’’