TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen threatened legal action against Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin if he accused him outside the Dáil of engaging in inappropriate behaviour relating to Anglo Irish Bank.

He said there was no relevance to him having a dinner and what he did in the course of his duties.

“If you have any suggestion to the contrary, any evidence to the contrary, do not abuse the privilege of this House,” he added.

“Go outside and say it and I will see you in court. It is as simple as that,” said Mr Cowen.

Mr Ó Caoláin had raised the circumstances of the game of golf and the subsequent dinner, which Mr Cowen had with Seán FitzPatrick, then chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, in Druids Glen in 2008. “In fairness [to] the former regulator, he indicated that in his opinion, such contact, socially or otherwise, would be wholly inappropriate,” Mr Ó Caoláin added.

Mr Cowen said it was hard to take a lecture about inappropriate contact from Mr Ó Caoláin.

Mr Cowen added there was no question of any inappropriate behaviour on his part relating to having a meal after a golf game.

“There were issues raised which were about the general economy.”

Addressing Mr Ó Caoláin, who was in Druids Glen on the same evening, Mr Cowen said: “I don’t know why you came over to invite me to a wedding party, the way you look at me now.

“I took you at face value that evening. I don’t know what was on your menu either, by the way.”