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Alan Dukes says Siteserv inquiry will find no wrongdoing

The former chairman of IBRC, Alan Dukes, says he's fully confident that an inquiry into the sale ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

06.55 24 Apr 2015


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Alan Dukes says Siteserv inqui...

Alan Dukes says Siteserv inquiry will find no wrongdoing

Newstalk
Newstalk

06.55 24 Apr 2015


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The former chairman of IBRC, Alan Dukes, says he's fully confident that an inquiry into the sale of Siteserv will find no evidence of any wrongdoing.

He says he's satisfied that the bid by Denis O'Brien's Millington firm was the one with the best result for the bank, and therefore the taxpayer.

But the former Fine Gael leader says he's angry at any mention of illegal wrongdoing at the bank.

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He says he can't understand why the Department of Finance continued to raise concerns about issues they'd already been assured about:

The man who oversaw the sale of Siteserv by the former Anglo Irish Bank says he 100% stands over every aspect of the deal.

Walter Hobbs is insisting that the deal to sell to Denis O'Brien's Millington was the most lucrative and least complicated.

Mr Hobbs says he is willing and prepared to answer questions on the matter if he is called before any inquiry or the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

And he is adamant the Siteserv deal was good value for the taxpayer.

He told Newstalk Lunchtime, presented by Colette Fitzpatrick, the Millington bid was accepted because it was the best one on offer.

Meanwhile the Taoiseach Enda Kenny says a Commission of Investigation into the sale of assets by the former Anglo Irish Bank would take a very long time.

Mr Kenny is backing the holding of a review which will see IBRC liquidators examine every deal which saw a loss to the taxpayer of more than €10m.

He says the review - sparked by controversy over the sale of Siteserv to Denis O'Brien's Millington at a loss of over €100m - is to be completed by August and referred to Oireachtas Committees.

Speaking after meeting the French Prime Minister in Dublin, Mr Kenny defended not launching a full Commission of Investigation.

Meanwhile, SiteServ owner Denis O'Brien said he was not in control of the sale process when he was buying the construction company from IBRC, at a loss to the taxpayer of €100m.

Mr O'Brien said he was merely the buyer and was not aware of what was happening between the Department of Finance and IBRC at the time.

He also said he would be happy to appear before the PAC on the issue if he is asked.

A Cabinet minister said earlier it would be a "mistake" to order a Commission of Investigation into the sale of Siteserv.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have criticised the review announced by Finance Minister Michael Noonan yesterday, which will see the IBRC liquidators examine transactions which cost the taxpayer more than €10m.

The Irish Times says the Freedom of Information documents show the Department of Finance's concern over a number of deals, not just the SiteServ one, as well as pay and appointments at the bank, and the way IBRC handled a number of its major borrowers.

They also reveal that the Finance Minister Michael Noonan was so concerned that he stated he was not confident of reporting to the Dáil on IBRC affairs.

Cliff Taylor, managing editor of The Irish Times, was responsible for the latest Freedom of Information disclosures in relation to Anglo.

He told Newstalk Breakfast earlier there will be significant blow-back from these documents.


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