The Chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has called on developer Johnny Ronan to remove the controversial German phrase "Arbeit Macht Frei" from his writing statement to the banking inquiry.
"Arbeit Macht Frei", which means "work makes you free”, was placed over the entrances to a number of Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
Mr Ronan used the German phrase at the end of his witness statement published yesterday to the ongoing inquiry into the financial crisis.
Maurice Cohen said he was greatly “disquieted” by the reference and said he can only surmise that it was inserted in complete ignorance of its usage and its connotations that are associated with the darkest period in European history.
Earlier, former minister for justice Alan Shatter said he hoped the banking inquiry will take action to deal with the controversial phrase contained in the statement.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Fine Gael TD Mr Shatter said he understands that the inquiry chairman Ciaran Lynch cannot amend the statement, but information has previously been redacted from other statements.
"I would fully accept and understand that he can't unilaterally censor a statement furnished, though indeed the committee have taken to redacting aspects of statements before they're put on the Oireachtas website,” said Mr Shatter.
“I believe is something that could be considered. But I would assume that if Mr Ronan wants to amend his statement, the committee would co-operate with him in that."
Mr Shatter said he has not heard from Mr Ronan since asking him to remove the phrase yesterday and said he hoped he would have responded by now.
