Taoiseach Urged To Clarify Central Bank Collapse Claims

The Taoiseach has been called to clarify comments he made regarding the possible collapse of the Central Bank.

It is understood that Enda Kenny said Ireland was "so close to collapse" that then Central Bank Governor Patrick Honohan urged him to consider dispatching troops and to install capital controls on Irish banks.

Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, said the comments of An Taoiseach raised very serious questions as to why neither he nor Patrick Honohan entered this very pertinent information into their evidence in the banking enquiry.

Deputy Doherty also questioned the veracity of his comments, asking if the Taoiseach was simply "telling another of his yarns that are heard so often in Leaders' Questions".

The Donegal South-West deputy said: "The Taoiseach has said that the Governor of the Central Bank said to him that looked like he would have to put the army around the banks and ATMs as the government moved to install capital controls.

"While it would be prudent that such a plan would be sitting on a shelf somewhere, and indeed such a plan had been mooted since the previous government, this would suggest that Ireland stood on the precipice and was within days of implementing this fall-back plan.

"The Taoiseach has made his comments today at a conference of his European sister parties and I have to ask; is the Taoiseach being truthful, or is this another tale of the man with two pints?

"If he is being truthful however, was the Irish economy on the brink of collapse? Was the euro itself at risk of dissolution?  

"The path now is clear; the Taoiseach and Patrick Honohan must state publicly what situation could have led to a conversation where the Governor of the Central Bank advised the Taoiseach to ready the army and to prepare to install capital controls in Ireland.

"I have written to my colleagues on the Banking Inquiry that this issue needs clarification from the Taoiseach and Governor Honohan."

(MH/LM)