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Was there any 'nod nod wink wink behaviour' at IBRC?

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

Updated 12.05pm

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Everyone’s talking about…

The cabinet is set to meet this morning to finalise the terms of reference of the commission of investigation into certain IBRC transactions.

mary lou Mary Lou McDonald Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

Requests for the lower house to be recalled last week fell on deaf ears, as the row over Dáil privilege escalated following comments made about Denis O’Brien’s relationship with IBRC (formerly Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide) by independent TD Catherine Murphy.

Opposition TDs met with Finance Minister Michael Noonan yesterday to discuss the terms of reference of the investigation.

They want the scope of the inquiry to be widened to include departmental oversight and transactions made by the special liquidator after the bank was wound down in February 2013.

TDs will finally get their chance to have their say on the Dáil floor – with several hours of debate on the issue pencilled in today and tomorrow.

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said Noonan “seemed to be open” to suggestions made by the opposition at the meeting.

Echoing calls made by Murphy, she added that it needs to be clarified if any of the bank’s customers received preferential treatment or, as she put it, if  ”nod nod wink wink behaviour” went on.

enda Enda Kenny Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

On his way into cabinet this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said once the terms of reference are signed off on, the judge overseeing the investigation will be entirely independent, stating: “Judges are not the pawns of any minister and they’re not the pawns of any government.”

Later, Noonan said he believed the government would get “a good result” from  discussions this morning and added that the terms of reference will “allow the judge to deal with all the issues that have been raised”.

But don’t expect that to satisfy the opposition.

Inside Leinster House

The IBRC debate is set to kick off just after 5pm today, and is set to be very interesting – and possibly quite shout-y.

The agenda

  • The cabinet will meet this morning, where the IBRC inquiry and lead in water pipes are set to be discussed.
  • Defence Minister Simon Coveney will be answering questions at 2pm.
  • Enda Kenny will have his first Leaders’ Questions of the week at 3.15pm.
  • The banking inquiry will hold a private meeting at 3.30pm.
  • Environment Minister Alan Kelly will discuss climate action and low carbon legislation with the environment committee at 4.15pm.
  • Senators will debate the new policing authority bill at 4.45pm.
  • Shortly after 5pm the Dáil will begin debating the Commission of Investigation into IBRC, before adjourning at midnight.
  • Representatives from Amnesty International will discuss its report on Ireland’s abortion laws with the health committee at 5.15pm.

What the others are saying

  • Some Cork City councillors are unhappy Environment Minister Alan Kelly asked for the official opening of a social housing unit to be postponed until he could attend, according to the Irish Examiner.
  • The same paper states that draft copies of the Fennelly Commission report into the resignation of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan will be given to ceratin individuals including the Taoiseach this week.
  • The Irish Independent notes that Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor has been selected to represent the party in the Dún Laoghaire constituency in Dublin.

In case you missed it

On the Twitter machine

Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony is embracing his new constituency…

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54 Comments
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    Mute Luke Sullivan
    Favourite Luke Sullivan
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    Dec 14th 2013, 3:35 PM

    Phew, at least it there not recalling the preparation H, and ‘Fire in the hole’ anal itch cream I ordered from them for herself for Xmas.

    39
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    Mute Ann Mc Kennedy
    Favourite Ann Mc Kennedy
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    Dec 14th 2013, 3:38 PM

    Lucky woman your missus!!

    28
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    Mute Luke Sullivan
    Favourite Luke Sullivan
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    Dec 14th 2013, 3:40 PM

    I’m thoughtful. As Confucius says, ‘they who go to bed with itchy bum, wake up with smelly finger’.

    Plus, it was 50% off.

    27
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    Mute Ann Mc Kennedy
    Favourite Ann Mc Kennedy
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    Dec 14th 2013, 6:47 PM

    Bit of an ass fixation going on!?!

    6
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    Mute Luke Sullivan
    Favourite Luke Sullivan
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    Dec 15th 2013, 12:52 AM

    No, I got her vagisil too.

    4
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    Mute Ann Mc Kennedy
    Favourite Ann Mc Kennedy
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    Dec 15th 2013, 1:05 AM

    You have to be the most thoughtful husband ever!! I hope she appreciates it!!!

    3
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    Mute Laura W
    Favourite Laura W
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    Dec 14th 2013, 4:34 PM

    My pharmacist told me that children’s cough medicines aren’t available here anymore, something about them being proved ineffective in under 12s? Please correct me if I’m wrong, it’s just that when I saw this article I thought, “Well that doesn’t pertain to children in Ireland”. I’d like to know for sure because my mother (who is from the UK) suggested that I buy this Tixilix stuff for my daughter.

    11
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    Mute Jeanniejampots
    Favourite Jeanniejampots
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    Dec 14th 2013, 4:42 PM

    No Laura you are right. Pharmacies here are not allowed to sell cough bottle to kids under 6 ( not 12) as they are not proven to work and have been proven to potentially have dangerous side effects. If these products are sold here they must have no active ingredients so are not cough bottles but not sure if you can even get them here.

    13
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    Mute Jenni Sheridan
    Favourite Jenni Sheridan
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    Dec 14th 2013, 7:38 PM

    That’s not true, you can get cough medicines for children here suitable from 2 years and upwards, the age recommendation on certain medications was changed from 2 to 6 years, not all of them.

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    Mute Jenni Sheridan
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    Dec 14th 2013, 7:59 PM

    In actual fact, there are a couple that are suitable from about 6 months onwards also.

    4
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    Mute Hayley Murphy-Farrell
    Favourite Hayley Murphy-Farrell
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    Dec 14th 2013, 11:23 PM

    There’s a throat syrup you can get for babies and children called Pharmony, but it’s just natural ingredients.

    7
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    Mute Jenni Sheridan
    Favourite Jenni Sheridan
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    Dec 15th 2013, 12:14 AM

    That’s right Hayley, its suitable from four months and contains glycerine, aniseed and lemon.

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    Mute RossMcEntegart
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    Dec 15th 2013, 12:39 PM

    Completely irrelevant article: not one of those Tixylix products is currently available in Ireland!

    For those debating what can and cannot be used by kids of what age, follow the link to the other story at the bottom of the article.

    1
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