Taoiseach: Drumm must co-operate with Banking Inquiry

The controversial banker is wanted in Ireland by the Garda fraud squad and has ruled out returning to Dublin of his own free will, offering instead to field inquiry questions via video-link next Wednesday.

This afternoon, the Taoiseach has made it clear that if the inquiry tells Mr Drumm to attend in person, he should do so.

“Every person who has been contacted by the Banking Inquiry has a duty and a responsibility to co-operate fully and completely with the Inquiry in the interests of the taxpayer and the interests of our country,” he said.

“And I would suggest that that happen, that that applies in all cases, where the Banking Inquiry committee have been in touch with any individual.”

Fianna Fail’s Michael McGrath said the idea of Drumm giving evidence remotely goes against everything he stands for.

“Allowing Mr Drumm to give evidence to the Banking Inquiry on his terms from the US – while at the same time he refuses to cooperate with the Irish criminal justice system – should not be acceptable to a committee of our national parliament,” he said.

“As an elected representative, I am duty bound to stand behind and support the institutions of the State including all aspects our criminal justice system.”

Mr Drumm fled Ireland in the months after his resignation from Anglo and the bank’s collapse which cost Irish taxpayers about €29bn.

He is facing an extradition application from Irish authorities in the US courts but has repeatedly refused to answer questions publicly on his handling of the bank’s affairs.

The Banking Inquiry is expected to meet next Tuesday to decide whether to accept the video link offer.

It is awaiting legal advice on whether Mr Drumm’s suggestion amounts to refusing to comply with a direction from a parliamentary committee.

The unusual offer is being likened in some quarters to evidence given by former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet who could not be compelled to attend the Dáil as he was only answerable to the European institutions and instead he took questions after making a speech at the Institute for International and European Affairs in Dublin.

Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton later said that Mr Drumm should not be facilitated.

"I have, I suppose, a difficulty with that," she said.

"He is someone the State is trying to extradite at the moment, I don't believe that [videolink] would be appropriate, in the same way that I didn't think it was appropriate that the Banking Inquiry shipped up to Dublin Castle to speak to Mr Trichet.

"I think that there has to be some degree of respect for a national parliament, and this is a banking inquiry that is mandated by our national parliament and I think Mr Drumm should appear before it in person."

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said there was also a concern Mr Drumm’s appearance could be blocked by the Director of Public Prosecutions as trials are pending involving some of his former colleagues at Anglo.

He said the committee should be “mindful” of all considerations.

He said: "He's not in breach of any of the Banking Inquiry directions at this point of time, although he has informed us that he will not appear at the Banking Inquiry and has offered to do that by videolink.

"The committee has accepted his written statement, so the evidence has been accepted by the committee.

"The question to ask ourselves now is 'Do we want to test that evidence or do we want to just leave it as his written statement?'"

But Mr McGrath issued a point blank refusal to facilitate Mr Drumm giving evidence from overseas.

“Facilitating Mr Drumm’s ongoing refusal to cooperate with criminal investigations in Ireland by agreeing to a video link from the US goes against everything I stand for in public life and would, I believe, be a grave error by the banking inquiry,” he said.

“In the first instance, Mr Drumm should return to Ireland to cooperate with and support the criminal investigations under way. I also believe he should attend the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry in person in Leinster House as directed.”

Mr McGrath said he has legal advice that Mr Drumm’s refusal to attend the inquiry in person is in breach of a direction by a parliamentary committee.

The Fianna Fail finance spokesman said he has asked inquiry chairman Ciaran Lynch to ask the DPP for her views on the possible impact on forthcoming and possible future criminal trials if Mr Drumm gives evidence via video link.

“If this engagement with Mr Drumm were to proceed, I am deeply concerned that comments made remotely from the United States could prejudice forthcoming criminal trials in Ireland. I will not support or play any part in such an exercise,” he added.

A second member of the Banking Inquiry later has said he would not accept evidence from Mr Drumm by video link.

Fine Gael's Eoghan Murphy said: "The Inquiry cannot give special treatment to a person who is of interest to the Gardaí".

Earlier Fianna Fáíl's Michael McGrath said he was concerned that comments made in the United States would prejudice trials in Ireland.

The inquiry is due to meet again on Monday evening to receive more legal advice on the issue.