Minster Says Bias Test For Banking Inquiry Committee Is Vital

Minster says bias test for banking inquiry committee is vital

The Communications Minister says the 'bias test' for members of TDs who want to sit on the Banking Inquiry is crucial to protect prosecutions against senior bank officials. The test will ensure that any politician who wants to probe the banking crisis has not made any prejudicial comments about potential witnesses. The new Committee is expected to be up and running by May before the Local and European elections. Minister Pat Rabbitte says the inquiry is important, but the public will not be served by having trials thrown out of court. "Great care has to be taken - the public demand and inquiry and the public want an inquiry; but the public won't want an inquiry if it cuts across prosecutions that are in-train" he said. "So the Oireachtas is right to make haste slowly" he added.