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THE TAOISEACH’S REPEATED claim that there are no records in his Department of the rationale behind the decision to issue a blanket guarantee of Irish banks nearly five years ago has come under scrutiny again in light of the Anglo Tapes.
Enda Kenny continued to insist last week that “there is no record in the Department of the Taoiseach of the conversations about this matter between bankers and those who were in government”.
His claim has been strenuously denied by Fianna Fáil which has released a document to TheJournal.ie which outlines a schedule of all documents relating to the bank guarantee, many of which cannot be released because of government confidentiality.
A spokesperson for Fianna Fàil has described the Taoiseach’s claims as a “disingenuous smear campaign” and “a lie”. But a government spokesperson insisted this week: “There is nothing to document the rationale behind the decision that was taken by the government. Nothing.”
The document is what is known as a ‘schedule of records’ and lists 146 documents which are relevant to the request from Fianna Fáil for “a copy of all notes, memos, documents and briefing material available in the Department of the Taoiseach in relation to the banking guarantee of 2008, all internal documents in relation to the guarantee, any notes from meetings with experts and outside groups in relation to the guarantee since the guarantee was approved in 2008 and any notes that contained references to shredding documents about the banking guarantee”.
Of the 146 documents 106 have been withheld, 31 have been released in full and four have been partially released. Many of the records are withheld under section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act which concerns the confidentiality of government records.
Descriptions of the withheld documents include ‘minutes of Government meeting’, a ‘memorandum for government’, a ‘draft guarantee bill’ and notes concerning discussions on 30 September 2008 - the date the Fianna Fáil-led government made the decision to guarantee the banks.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie a government spokesperson insisted that this document does not disprove the Taoiseach’s repeated claims of there being no record of the rationale behind the decision to guarantee the banks.
“What we have is, and it has been released under Freedom of Information already, is a few years of procedural and administrative documents that refer to certain meetings taking place but no evidence of any discussion, no minutes, no memorandum,” the spokesperson said.
They added: “I think it’s very reasonable to point out, as the Taoiseach said at the time and as the Taoiseach does now, that there exists no documentation as to the rationale behind that decision. There isn’t anything.”
Fianna Fáil said the the circumstances leading up to the guarantee of the banking system are laid out in three independent reports including the report by the current Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan.
In his report of May 2010, Honohan wrote: “A detailed review of the ensuing discussions is hampered by the absence of an extensive written record of what transpired.”
Enda Kenny first claimed that no documents existed in his Department in July of last year, telling the Dáil: “There is no file in the Department of the Taoiseach. There is no file on the discussions or the meetings that took place, and the rationale applied to that.”
A spokesperson for Fianna Fáil said that the schedule of records proves the Taoiseach’s claim to be “demonstrably untrue” and has described the government’s position as being a “completely disingenuous smear campaign that they are running”.
“They are throwing up new things that they know are just ridiculous,” the spokesperson added.
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I’m a heterosexual male, so i don’t watch Reality TV.
@David Field: not even the manly programmes, ice road truckers, forged in fire..etc.
@Clare Power: i used to watch Deadliest Catch years ago but tbh, these days, I hardly watch any TV. Chewing gum for the eyes Dougal.
@David Field: yeah I hear ya, feck all on..
@Clare Power: Some really good cookery programmes on.
@Clare Power: the ice never breaks in ice road truckers
@David Field: any sport is reality TV, Elton Field.
@David Field: ya unlike dowl internet tis GR8 doom scroll all day
Looks like good craic, but I can’t understand the crying. Always wanted to have a go at the Crystal Maze…
@honey badger: Paranoia, eh.That ceasefire isn’t worth the blood its been signed off with.
@Pól Pot: What’s the alternative?
@honey badger: There ain’t none. Israel will wipe them from the land incrementally.
@Pól Pot: They won’t, though. Ffs.
@honey badger: Foolish man.
Huge news with everything going on in the world right now…
@Ckeego: why not just move on to an article that interests you? It’s the same as you seeing a message on a notice board in a supermarket and calling the number to tell them you have no interest in what they are offering! Move on
Loved Anna’s outfits. So fun and colourful!
Omg!! Talking nineteen to the dozen on the uncloaked show! Had trouble keeping up with her!
Seems like a fairly lame show to me the one time I watched it
More claptrap!
19 comments. Amazing how many watch tv these days.
The Irish version will be rubbish. Like the Irish version of Strictly or Gogglebox the contestants will be dire and the programme an embarrassment.
No deal with the Islamists, end them all.
@Alex: It is their right not to change, the non Muslims must change or die and be tolerant of those who will not change. Would make a reality programme traitors and a fight to the death.
@Alex: There has to be a deal. For the sake of everyone involved. There is, however, no future involving lasting peace whilst the Islamists govern Gaza. I was very heartened to see so many young men in clean clothes, new uniforms, looking healthy, with fresh haircuts celebrating their victory and promising more October 7ths. Not the usual results you’d associate with a genocide. Odd that.
@honey badger: And still you support a far-right regime that is guilty of war crimes and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people (your backing of Ukraine looks increasingly odd and random given that you care nothing for human rights).
‘Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are naturally relieved that these merciless Israeli bombardments will soon stop. But celebrations are tempered by fears about the future, and by deep grief and anger over the still terrifying present and immediate past. According to Gaza health ministry figures, more than 46,000 people have died there since the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks killed over 1,200 people. The true Palestinian death toll may be even higher.
‘Most of Gaza’s 2.1 million population is displaced. Most of their homes and neighbourhoods are in ruins. Most are short of food and water. Hunger, bordering on famine, is a daily menace. Hospitals and the healthcare system have been smashed. Tent cities have sprung up where real cities once stood. Gangs roam and steal. Children are perhaps the biggest victims. Those who survive are traumatised. The world’s abject failure to halt this slaughter of innocents will not be forgiven or forgotten.’
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/16/ceasefire-deal-gaza-netanyahu-trump-peace
@Brendan O’Brien: That’s why Hamas cannot be allowed to be the government of Gaza anymore. I’m sure you agree.
@Brendan O’Brien: Starting a war is unleashing hell.
@thomas molloy: Yes, but that does not imply carte blanche for one side to kill unlimited numbers of civilians. International law forbids that (as does moral law).
@honey badger: As I told you before, I would prefer not to see terrorist organisations such as the Netanyahu regime and Hamas anywhere near power.
@Brendan O’Brien: As I told you before, no October 7th, no horrific war. Hamas plan on repeating the pogrom too. Let’s hope they don’t.
@honey badger: Israel’s pogrom against Palestinians was exponentially larger and went on for 15 months rather than one day, but you gloss over that completely because of the ethnicities of the victims and perpetrators.
@Brendan O’Brien: Are we there already? You don’t like my opinion, so you hail mary something about ethnicities? Even by your standards, that is pathetic. Hamas can’t be allowed to remain in power. No October 7th pogrom. No horrific war.
@honey badger: It is obvious that ethnicity must be a factor, otherwise you could not pitch ~1500 civilian lives as being more valuable than tens of thousands. Ethnicity is the only difference.
I’ve explained to at you at length concepts such as personal responsibility for our actions. You can’t or won’t understand. A stone wall would have a more sensitive moral compass.
But I will continue to call out your shameful obfuscations as I see fit, because such things can’t be allowed to go unchallenged if the world is to have any kind of worthwhile future.
@Brendan O’Brien: It’s not obvious at all. I’ve never assigned more value to any life. This is you doing you. I’ve always simply stated Hamas started the war. Hamas could and should have surrendered many times and released the hostages. They chose not to. The onus is on Hamas as they launched the war. It’s that simple.
@honey badger: Of course it’s not that simple. As I point out above, the mere fact of who started a war does not imply carte blanche for one side to kill unlimited numbers of civilians. International law forbids that (as does moral law).
Sounds like being a sincere politician in Ireland being hunted as game by people after your job.
First world problems
@Oh Mammy: And in ‘the first world’ too! That must really surprise you. Are the LA fires a problem in and of ‘the first world’ also? Don’t tell me. You’d re-define ‘first world’ to suit your unsupported, illogical argument?
seeking attention woman that would show up soon in other shows until she get money and fame. Burk !
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