Banking Sector Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 July 2013

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Questions (79)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

79. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 2 July 2013, if he stands over the statement made in his response when he said that the Central Bank of Ireland was not aware of the Anglo tapes in view of the fact that the former chairperson of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Alan Dukes has stated that all board papers of the bank were made available to the Central Bank of Ireland and his Department so that they knew or had the information at all times regarding the tapes; in view of the fact that the Government has acknowledged that his Department was aware of the tapes, if he maintains the accuracy of the statement that the Central Bank of Ireland was unaware of the tapes; and his views on the fact that the bank is only now investigating a potential regulatory breach at Anglo Irish Bank. [35869/13]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I believe it is important to clarify that while the Department of Finance was aware that there were recordings of phone conversations in Anglo Irish Bank to the best of my knowledge the content of the specific tapes referred to was never raised with the Department. The Central Bank was also aware of phone recordings in the bank but I have been advised by the Central Bank that it was not aware of these tapes or the content contained therein. The Central Bank is carefully studying the various transcripts emerging. This is something that is viewed very seriously. The Central Bank will be liaising with the Gardaí in this regard and is also examining whether or not any breaches of regulatory requirements may have occurred arising from the information contained in the transcripts.