Poll: Are you satisfied with Brian Cowen's explanation of his meetings with Sean Fitzpatrick?

Sean Fitzpatrick had dinner and played golf with Brian Cowen in July – just two months before the bank guarantee scheme was announced. Are you satisfied with the Taoiseach’s explanation that this was a purely social occasion?

TAOISEACH BRIAN COWEN is coming under intense pressure to give further details of his meetings and discussions with Sean Fitzpatrick in the run-up to the September 2008 bank guarantee scheme.

A spokesman for Cowen yesterday confirmed that the July meetings, where the two played golf and had dinner, had taken place – but said they were social occasions, and the affairs of Anglo were not discussed.

Fitzpatrick also revealed he spoke to Cowen, then-Finance Minister, in March over concerns about Seán Quinn’s Anglo shares and the falling price of the bank’s shares. Cowen had not informed other ministers of the St Patrick’s Day phone call because “there was no reason to inform other ministers, because the Taoiseach did what was required. He informed the Governor of the Central Bank of the content of the phone call,” his spokesman has said.

Are you happy with this explanation? Or do you believe the Taoiseach owes the taxpayers funding the Anglo bailout a more detailed account of what was discussed between the two men?

Have your say: are you satisfied with the Taoiseach’s explanation?

Poll Results:

No: I want him held to account (958)

It's irrelevant (101)

Yes, I'm satisfied (56)

Yes, I'm satisfied
No: I want him held to account
It's irrelevant