Banking Inquiry receives correspondence from DPP in relation to Anglo witnesses

16/07/2015

The Oireachtas Banking Inquiry has agreed to maintain a direction to former Anglo Irish Bank executive Peter Fitzgerald following a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions to decline to issue a declaration to the Committee to withdraw the direction concerned under section 72 of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013.

The Committee has also agreed to withdraw a direction issued to former Anglo Irish Bank executive Willie McAteer to attend public hearings following intervention from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Following a decision by the Committee on July 2nd to maintain directions in relation to former Anglo Irish Bank executives Willie McAteer and Peter Fitzgerald, the executives then applied to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a declaration which, if given, would require the Committee to withdraw the directions concerned.

Having considered the lines of inquiry on which the Committee has directed that Mr Fitzgerald give evidence before it, the Director has declined to issue a declaration under section 72 to Mr Fitzgerald.

Having considered the lines of inquiry on which the Committee has directed Mr McAteer to give evidence, the DPP stated that it is of the opinion that the directions issued could reasonably be expected to prejudice criminal proceedings that are pending and has issued a declaration to the Committee to withdraw the direction.

All media enquiries in relation to the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry should be addressed to:

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2

P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

All general enquiries should be directed to the Committee Secretariat.

e. contactbankinquiry@oireachtas.ie
t. +353 1 618 3651

Committee Membership

Deputies

Ciarán Lynch (Chairman)
Pearse Doherty
Joe Higgins
Michael McGrath
Eoghan Murphy
Kieran O’Donnell
John Paul Phelan

Senators

Sean D Barrett
Michael D’Arcy
Marc MacSharry
Susan O’Keeffe