FF senator calls for probe into Kenny's 'shredding' claim
Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne has called for a full investigation into allegations the Taoiseach made about the party.
Speaking in the Dáil during Leader's Questions yesterday, Enda Kenny claimed that the previous Government may have shredded files relating to the bank guarantee.
Mr Kenny had been asked what progress was being made in renegotiating the crippling bank debt, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin calling for "more openness and transparency" about what the Government was looking for from its European partners.
Mr Kenny responded: "In respect of the bank guarantee which you completed at four o’clock in the morning, nobody in the country knows what you said. There is no file in the Department of the Taoiseach on this.
"It’s either shredded or disposed of, dispatched of."
The claims appear to have backfired of the Taoiseach who has been accused of sullying the name of late former finance minister Brian Lenihan, and called on to back up his comments with evidence.
Senator Byrne has argued that if the Taoiseach was serious about his allegation, he would have gone to the gardaí about the matter.
"The Taoiseach has come in and made very, very flippant and dangerous comments and he is going to have to back them up," Senator Byrne said.
"He can't, as Taoiseach of the country, come into the national parliament and make allegations that a file in relation to the most important matters that this state has dealt with has been shredded or done away with.
"It's very serious and it calls for a full investigation.
"One would assume, that if the Taoiseach is serious about this matter he (would have) gone to the gardaí.
"But I would question whether the Taoiseach is serious."
