Poll: Should the Oireachtas be allowed to investigate the bank guarantee?

Two Oireachtas committee are vying for the chance to investigate the bank guarantee four years ago but should politicians be allowed to scrutinise the decision in the first place?

THE DECISION TO guarantee Ireland’s banks nearly four years ago is one of the most controversial in the history of the State.

Though there have been a number of investigations into the collapse of Ireland’s banking system there has been no inquiry into circumstances surrounding the night of the bank guarantee and the circumstances leading up to it with growing calls for an inquiry into just what happened on the night of 30 September 2008.

Two Oireachtas committees – the Finance Committee and the Public Accounts Committee – are vying for the opportunity to investigate the guarantee. But some have raised concerns about politicians being allowed to investigate the decisions of other politicians. However, at the same time there is little appetite for any sort of judge-led inquiry given the Planning Tribunal went on for 15 years.

So today we want to know, do you think the Oireachtas – be it the Finance Committee or the PAC – be allowed to investigate the bank guarantee?

Poll Results:

No, we need to find another way (570)

Yes, it's better than no inquiry at all (426)

Don't know (229)

Yes, it's better than no inquiry at all
No, we need to find another way
Don't know

Read: The banking inquiry… who’s going to carry it out?

Column: Yes, we need a banking inquiry – but we can’t let politicians do it

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