Cowen accuses bankers over economy

There have been feisty exchanges at the banking inquiry where former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was giving evidence.

Cowen accuses bankers over economy

There have been feisty exchanges at the banking inquiry where former Taoiseach Brian Cowen was giving evidence.

He started his evidence with an apology for the hardship and distress caused by the policies that had to be implemented to deal with the financial crisis.

In his opening statement he defended the bank guarantee saying the alternative was to set the country back 25 years.

He has defended his role as Finance Minister in the years before the crisis, saying with the benefit of hindsight now of course some things should have been done differently.

And he clashed with Joe Higgins who was accusing him of being a cheerleader for speculators.

Mr Cowen, who presided over the country’s slide into economic chaos, has blamed bankers as the main culprits.

In his first lengthy response to the crash, the ex-taoiseach defended his Fianna Fail-led government which “worked tirelessly to do its duty in the most difficult circumstances”.

But while he vowed not to “pass the buck” and to accept responsibility for his role as leader of the country during the tumultuous period, he pointed the finger squarely at Irish lenders.

“It is important to recognise that in the pre-crisis period there was reckless lending by individual banks, made worse by a bonus culture incentivising short-term gains,” he said.

Referring to a report by Central Bank chief Patrick Honohan, Mr Cowen said “the primary responsibility of the crisis rests with the banks themselves”.

The ex-taoiseach also accused Irish and European banking regulatory systems of having “failed completely” to see the extent of the looming crash.

On his late-night decision to bring in a blanket guarantee for six banks at the height of the financial turmoil in September 2008 – which will cost Irish people €64bn – he said it was the “least worst option”.

“It was clear that we were on our own,” he said.

“We had one shot at it. If we did not get it right, Ireland, we were told, would be set back 25 years. We had to go with the best information available to us at the time.”

He added: “No option looked good – it was a case of taking the least worst option available.”

The inclusion in the blanket guarantee of rogue lender Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide, which have both since been wound up at huge cost to the state, sparked particular controversy.

But Mr Cowen said: “Had they collapsed, the cost to the state and the economy would have been catastrophic because of the consequent impact on the whole banking and economic system.”

Speaking before the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, a parliamentary investigation of the crash, Mr Cowen said he wanted to make high-ranking investors in the banks share the losses.

But he said he was threatened that Ireland’s EU/IMF/ECB bailout would be pulled if the top investors were forced to take a hit as well.

“We were left in no doubt that burning senior bondholders would mean no EU/IMF programme – it was one or the other,” he told the inquiry.

Mr Cowen said his government decided it was better for Ireland to go with the international rescue package.

“I want to say to the Irish people that the government I led dealt with the financial crisis to the very best of its ability,” he said.

“I know the crisis brought with it difficulties and problems of all kinds to many people throughout the country, and as head of the country I accept full and complete responsibility for my role and our response to that crisis.

“I’m sorry that the policies we felt necessary to put in place in responding to the national crisis brought with it hardship and distress to many people.

“The human cost of dealing with this crisis, which we sought to mitigate as best we could, was the most difficult aspect of the decision we had to make.”

Mr Cowen added: “While there was an international context to our difficulties there is no doubt there were failures on the domestic front also.”

He is being cross-examined under a phase of the inquiry looking at those in key roles before and after the crisis.

The former Laois Offaly TD was finance minister from September 2004 to May 2008, when he took over from Bertie Ahern as taoiseach. He was at the helm during the height of the calamity.

more courts articles

Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman
Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt Coronation Street actor William Roache (91) given three months to settle tax debt

More in this section

Government to introduce State contributory pension for carers Government to introduce State contributory pension for carers
Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate Drug death in Cork Prison could be linked to nitazene opiate
Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home  Four people hospitalised following suspected arson at West Dublin home 
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited