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Updated 11.00pm
SEANAD LEADER MAURICE Cummins has withdrawn a claim that an unknown conflict of interest would prevent a Fianna Fáil senator from serving on the forthcoming banking inquiry.
It follows a lengthy row in the upper house this morning and this afternoon after Cummins, a Fine Gael senator, said that Marc MacSharry could have a “conflict of interest” that would prevent him from serving on the probe into the collapse of the Irish banking system.
After the Seanad adjourned a number of times, Cummins has this afternoon withdrawn the remark, saying he had no intention of impugning MacSharry’s name. However, Fianna Fáil’s leader in the Seanad, Darragh O’Brien, said the foundations of the banking inquiry committee had been “rocked” by the controversy.
The row this morning followed a vote of the Seanad Committee on Selection last night which placed independent senator and Trinity economist Seán Barrett and MacSharry on the nine-strong committee.
Government efforts to put Labour’s Susan O’Keeffe on the inquiry failed due to the absence of a number of coalition senators meaning it does not now have a majority on the inquiry.
O’Brien said this morning that the decision was “valid” and “democratic” but it’s believed the government is seeking to overturn it.
Finana Fáil pushed for the Seanad to be suspended after Cummins raised the conflict of interest claim without elaborating on what it is. MacSharry said that “as a member of the House and as a citizen of Ireland I am entitled to some level of protection from the chair”.
MacSharry accused Cummins of “impugning my character” while his party colleague Thomas Byrne asked for the claim to be withdrawn saying it had “poisoned” the banking inquiry process.
The Seanad was suspended a number of times until senators eventually returned and Cummins said he was prepared to withdraw his remarks.
Earlier, Cummins had proposed that Barrett and MacSharry’s nomination to the inquiry be referred to the Committee on Procedures and Privileges given there had been a “general belief” there would be one government and one opposition senator on the inquiry and not two opposition members.
However he acknowledged that the motion before the Seanad did not explicitly state the requirement for one government and one opposition member.
“I am suggesting to refer the matter to the Committee on Procedures and Privileges and the matter will be investigated,” he said.
Prior to that O’Brien said that the lack of a government majority “would make no difference at all if it is to be an independent inquiry”.
“I am assuming the government will accept the democratic decision of an independent committee of the Seanad,” he said, noting that it was as far back as 1982 that a committee of selection decision had been challenged.
Fianna Fáil senator Terry Leyden said MacSharry was “a man of the greatest integrity” and claimed that the inquiry should not take place if his party colleague is removed from it.
Fine Gael’s Catherine Noone noted that the current composition of the committee means there are no women on the inquiry team, describing this as a “pretty damning indictment of politics today when it comes to gender balance”.
Senator Paul Bradford, formerly of Fine Gael and who voted for MacSharry’s inclusion, said that the Standing Orders of the Seanad stated that the committee was tasked with nominating members which he said was a “job of work which we completed”.
He said that the outcome of that process must be respected.
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Marc MacSharrys father Ray macSharry was on the board of two banks: Bank of Ireland and IL&P up until very recently. So now we’re expecting his son Marc to investigate his own father? Do me a favour
This is an absolute conflict of interest, thaty he was even suggested for it is a joke.
Foresthaze Developments Ltd. That is all.
I should be more clear… Google the company above and it’s links to the subject of this article….
Id forgotten about that although Id heard about Foresthaze before, I know that area of Sligo quite well. How they managed to get such a beautiful area rezoned for housing estates is beyond belief. Although then again its is Ray MacSharry & sons and the usual fianna fail b.s.
They’ve got no shame these people, it never ceases to amaze me.
Putting MacSharry up for this position is FF HQ’s giving 2 fingers to the idea of an investigation in to the Banking inquiry.
Send an auctioneer, property developer whose daddy sits on the bank boards being investigated.
What is wrong with them? There are other senators that are more qualified and less problematic and more capable.
Seanie – He is like nearly All Fianna Fáil Ites – CORRUPT – Just as Labour & Fine Gael are too !
You should know Seanie – as a FF Loyalist from the Bertie Era to now !
Seanie can you see now why people hate ff fg and lab they will lie and cheat the people of this country at every chance then set up inquiry’s where they white wash every thing
Leave Seannie alone C, he is undergoing a road to Damascus like conversion
What does that mean
He was not responsible for the banking crisis he wasn’t even on the board until after the crisis to try and rectify it get your facts in order
Ray MacSharry was a Director in the Bank of Ireland from 1993-2005.
Certainly relevant.
The government creche is in turmoil?
All the toys must be out of the pram now, when can we have a general election?
Ffs sort it out yous pack of baboons.
Phil i do believe it was an FG “baboon” who started this by making a statement with absolutely no detail backing it up. Something FG are very good at at the mo. Seanad is an out of control talk shop, somebody needs to go in there and put smacht on them.
FF want to stack the deck to make it easier to brush over their criminal negligence between 1997 and 2011
Tinker Taylor maybe it’s just me but I do also think Labour and Fine Gael had a hand in this crisis too. Between the collapse of Anglo in 2008 and the bailout in 2010, FG and Lab were throwing out wildly irresponsible statements about the health of the banks and our finances all around the world. The speculators and people betting against our state had a field day and it pushed us into a bailout and forced a general election. It was a crisis either way but they deepened it with negative publicity. Kenny might have been able to achieve a shred of something only he almost ruined this country to get elected himself.
@alex a GE won’t alter the upper house
Very true but we might get the reform it needs with a new government. think the next shower might actually make a difference
Padraig, maybe I’m picking you up wrong, but a general election to the Seanad must take place no later than 90 days after the dissolution of Dáil Éireann.
The largest group of electors in that Seanad general election (aside from the university seats) would be our newly-elected county and city councilors. So a general election for the Dáil would alter the upper house. (Unless, you’re talking about reform of the Seanad?)
Shows you how much FF have ‘renewed’ when they put M Macsharry into the Senate and then nominate him to the Banking Enquiry. Same guy involved in dubious land and development deals not to mention his dads banking connections. Wake up people who voted FF last week
It is a stupid choice putting Marc MacSharry forward for this role given his father’s directorships on Bank of Ireland and non-exec director for Irish Life and Permanent. Of Course it is a potential conflict of interest. “Hi Daddy, welcome to the committee”.
He also seems a bit volatile in debates, shouting and making noise is not the same as asking hard hitting questions. You never see the stars of the PAC committee loosing the rag, it is calm, collected and decisive.
He is being out forward to raise his profile for the next General Election so that Eamonn Scanlan will not get the seat over him. Back scratching at the party top once more for the well connected and their friends.
Will you get a life perhaps a sine fein government will suit you better
You don’t like facts Helen. Maybe not reading would suit you better. Reality can be your friend as well.
Will you be responding Helen?
Fair play Seanie.
My four month just threw up on my phone while I was reading this story, perfectly summing up how I feel about it.
That’s the sort of political commentary we need Jennifer.
Is it any wonder this country is the way it is with a bunch of gombeens running things
Is it any wonder this country is the way it is with a bunch of gombeens running things”
– who voted for the ” gombeens ”
Our county councillors did.
Exactly, Marc MacSharry ran in Sligo/Leitrim but didnt get elected at the last GE. Instead he was returned to the Seanad by a votes from fianna fail councillors around the country.
Although this doesnt explain the clowns who elected Ray MacSharry time and again
You mean the ones who lied to us Jim.
Donal – Our Graduates from some of our Colleges had votes too !
The Taoiseach had the Nominating of the rest of the Gobdaws – including Eamon Coghlan !!!!
Back up that claim ?
Why does it matter if the govt has a majority on a supposed ‘independent and fact finding’ enquiry?
Bulls**t politicians still playing games with the country.
Another absolute pointless bit of nonsense like Labours leadership. God help anyone who is naive enough to think this sham enquiry will go anywhere. The only ones who will benefit from this are those who are being paid to work on it.
yer so right, Sargon; just another permutation of jobs for the boys….
Politicians should be bound by the same rules governing company directors, personal interests/conflict of interests MUST be disclosed.
…to act bona fide and in the best interests of the country (company) as a whole would also be a breath of fresh air.
Matt, totally agree. Company directors are answerable to their Board and shareholders. Politicians are , or should be, answerable to the citizens of the country. To have any credibility there must be complete disclosure of all interests. I would seek the same from senior civil servants also……..the ones who pull the strings regardless of the nature of the government. Judges, of course, come into that category.
That mcsharry fellas a pric. I wouldn’t leet him sit on a scaffold board.
Do you even know him
He’s a Shinner from Carrick, the ignorance comes naturally.
No but I never knew hitler either.
I saw him going mad a few times in the circus/crèche/Seanad calling ppl clowns and roaring the place down. Made a fool of himself.
Sounds like you know him Helen?
Sadly it looks more and more likely that FG wants to use this enquiry for political point scoring rather then actually investigating what exactly went on. Pity but then with the government being led by someone with few if any principles like Kenny this result was to be expected.
“why does the government need a majority in an independant enquiry” Because a FF led enquiry into FF’s actions leading up to the bank guarantee is going to find that everything the government did was absolutely and totally the right thing to do, and they all deserve payrises and bonuses for their commendable work of course! Why are there senators on this committee? They are the ultimate party line monkeys, that’s why they are in the Seanad in the first place ffs!
They are all mad to get on the committee big profile opportunity and of course more big expenses. The gravy train rolls on and on.
Whatever about its effectiveness, a banking enquiry must be kept clean and the public interest must be put ahead of any politicians surname, assumed entitlement, family service to party etc – a politicians ego cannot be permitted to poison the banking enquiry before it starts – the people of Ireland deserve more.
Nobody from FF should allowed on it. The very idea is ludicrous.
Do you want a political witch hunt then ya ?
*clap* *clap* *clap*
That me applauding every one of you dolts who voted in favour of keeping this pointless shower of gobdaw senators.
Well done. You’ve done the state some service.
Just looked at your twitter Ollie – god you are a real FF hack
In McSharry’s pocket ?
catherine noone pulling the woe is me no woman on commitee……
Barret is an establsihment economist who never spoke out againt the bubble, though his wages were paid by the taxpayer. How does this qualify him for the inquiry. The enquiry should actually look at the negligence of economists with as much vigour as as it looks at the negligence of accountants.
McSharry as well as being Ray McSharry’s son, is a an estate agents. The enquiry surely must look at the influence of the ‘housing industry’ on government policy. How can McSharry do that, impartially?
The whole reason for an enquiry is completely lost by this side show. It lost any meaning when the big players refused to attend. now it’s a parish pump saga where government senators go missing because it is pointless. I love to know how you measure integrity in any politician it seem only other politicians can see it. In private they all know what happened, the same civil servants are working in the same dept. They would prefer a media circus on this topic Than their own mistakes in everything from health to justice to housing and the fact that this government is no longer fit for purpose.
Hilarious …this bunch of idiots running the country couldn’t even organise to have a majority on this committee …unbelievable…talk about inept…
Ciaran Lynch labour chair of banking inquiry said all members must leave there party affiliations at the door.
So what are the government worried about.
Surely they don’t think the committee will be biased or did there they intend it to be biased in favour of government agenda
It was my understanding that if the Seanad was allowed to continue, they were going to reform it.
How’s that going?
Actually, the government made it perfectly clear that they weren’t going to reform anything before the referendum. The “have it as it is now or get rids of it”point was made very clear at every juncture. We, the people, sent the message that, while we aren’t happy with the Seanad as it is, we would like it very much if you could clean it up a bit, but Enda wasn’t listening, as usual.
Perfect example of how Ireland has been and continues to be ran.
I wish people would refrain from commenting on something that they know zero about!!!
Ollie, I bet you know it all !!
Are you a know all ?
At least more than zero ?
Ollie’s twitter profile is a picture of him with Marc MacSharry, I never noticed that earlier. LOL
Your rather slow then aren’t you ?
@Ollie I guess I am but its better than being a mouthpiece for a member of a corrupt and morally bankrupt political party like Fianna Fail. Grow a pair Ollie LOL
1. I see this very differently. MacSharry’s links to a director of a bank which was bailed it out shows FF’s moral compass and their intent to circle the wagons.
2. FG/LAB I read earlier didn’t have their members in attendance – if true – tough
3. Catherine Noone’s comment on gender balance is ridiculous
4. Bradford – voting against his teat because his mammy put him on the bold step
5. And most importantly, he is entering this inquiry with information about PTSB and to build his profile as a candidate for next GE. His questions will be screened as closely as the answers to them. I think its a great appointment.
Ollie,
2 things:
1. Its “You’re” rather slow
2. The fada in your party name is the wrong way around
I bet you know Marc quite well alright.
Sorry just to explain Point 2 above
“@oliver_golden1
icampaign.ie, Liverpool supporter. Fianna Fàil member, Sligo Gaa, all views my own.”
… I enjoy your tweets and posts – reminds me of the auld FF swagger. In a way the swastika also reminds me
It’s a thankless job, proofing these posts, isn’t it?
Not my usual form Seamus. Obnoxious responses deserve a callout.
Mouthpiece he might be, but he does use his own name rather than rather invent an anonymous account to spread one’s own poisonous bile. That right K?
Whose is that at Jonathan ??
Who is that at? That’ll teach me for earlier!
That wasn’t intended for you ger.
Hope they can get cowen back for chairman. Maybe even Michael neary as a member too.
Maybe they should hold an enquiry into Tuam at the same time. Then they could whitewash both very serious issues at half the price to the tax payer. I mean we Irish are big thickos and it would be easy to do.
Good man ger, just wondering do you support any political party ?
No Oliver I don’t.
I’m for a successful and prosperous Ireland. I don’t have your loyalty to a party thru thick\thin. I would prefer to see the Civil War ended now by FF & FG going to the wall. As I said earlier, if you seriously think your mate has no conflict of interest, you are beyond help.
Actually I thought you were a sitting councillor.
“I will be in the public gallery tomorrow morning as Sligo County Council meet for first time!!”
…. I have to work Ollie ; sorry can’t join you… maybe a council run in 5 years yourself?
have your say