Who said the banking enquiry was a good idea?

Civil Servants will use the ‘we were under orders’ defence. Bankers would apologize on the back of their rather large salaries and politicians? They revert to type. They pontificate.

I missed the return of the Great One yesterday. I was otherwise engaged in an octagon so Charlie McCreevey fell off my radar but he was his rumbustous self. He was, in his own belief, the most perfect Finance minister. EVER.

Ah the arrogance hasn’t disappeared.

This morning was different. I had advance warning. There was a big BC writ large in my diary.

The wanderer was returning.

I decided to give his opening statement a miss. Who needs to read his own hagiography? I dived straight into the question and answer session. The members of the committee had their pencils sharpened and were ready to pounce.

Who were they kidding?

This was BIFFO. This was the Offaly minor hurler ready to swing the hurl again and in his way was that Kerry Midfield man, Joe Higgins. It was 1982 all over again. Offaly won. Again.

Cowen’s debating skills helped him run rings around poor Joe. Whether we like it or not, Cowen exploited Joe’s image as the village’s only leftie so he was able to bat away questions about the ‘Galway Tent’.

As the morning went on, I was brought back to the headless days of 2009 where we were where we were.

It’s the classic Biffo. Depressingly so. The apology was there but with a shrug of ‘what else can i do?'

The limitations of the enquiry were laid bare today. Showboating members now have to deal with showboating witnesses. Here’s what is going to happen.

Chaos.

The floor of the Dail will seep into the floor of the committee room. Showboating witnesses will do their best to protect their legacy (after the obligatory apology).

The end will be just as depressing. Any chance of an unified final report will be in shreds. Mark my words. It WILL end in tears.

We would have learnt nothing.