The Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the Government was 'standing idly by' while Bank of Ireland approved a €1.5 billion top-up for the pension of the bank's CEO Richie Boucher.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that the money was not paid directly to Mr Boucher, but was paid into the bank pension fund in order to sustain the CEO's contractual situation. Mr Cowen said it was not an 'enhancement'.
Mr Kenny said this explanation was 'a complete whitewash'.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore asked if the Taoiseach knew, when he was Minister for Finance, about the bad practices at Irish Nationwide, and whether he was ever given a report by the Central Bank or by the Regulator. The Taoiseach said they were never brought to his attention.
