Pearse Doherty cannot sign off on Banking Inquiry Report that falls short on answers

THE Oireachtas Banking Inquiry fails to answer important questions the public wants and deserves to hear so Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty — one of the key Inquiry members — said on Sunday that he cannot sign off on the final report despite all the time and energy he and fellow members have invested in the probe.

Pearse has been widely acknowledged as one of the most diligent members of the 11-member inquiry, forensically trying to ascertain the truth as to how the banking crisis happened and who was responsible but he now he says he cannot stand by a final report that falls short of expectations.

“When I agreed to take part in the Banking Inquiry, foremost in my mind were the people who have lost their homes and businesses, the cuts inflicted on our public services and the generation forced into emigration because of the banking crisis.

“The people have the right to know how the banking crisis came about, who was responsible and to be assured that it would never happen again.   

“I have worked constructively on the Inquiry to get to the full truth of what happened.

“While the report includes new information, it fails to fully answer the questions regarding how the crisis came about and who was responsible.

“Our people deserve the full truth. That is why I am unable to not sign off on the committee report.”