Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has called on former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm to return to Ireland and co-operate with the Garda investigation into the failed bank.

He said yesterday he had observed Mr Drumm, from his base in the United States, protesting about the coverage in the Irish media of taped conversations involving him and other former executives with the bank.

“I do believe he should co-operate with the Garda, as he has been requested to do, and make himself available to answer any questions that remain to be answered in the context of the investigations that are taking place.’’

Mr Shatter was speaking to journalists at Garda headquarters in Dublin at the launch of victim impact statement guidelines.

Banking matters
The Minister said he believed it was very important to have an inquiry into banking matters, adding that the Government had introduced legislation to provide for a greater facility on the part of an Oireachtas committee to conduct an investigation within constitutional constraints.

“I am very conscious, as Minister for Justice, that the public obviously want an insight into exactly what did occur,’’ he added.

“Some of the information that has appeared in the public domain in the last 2½ weeks or so has given a very interesting insight into the mindset of some of the individuals in Anglo Irish.’’

Mr Shatter said their contempt for the financial regulatory system, and their lack of concern about how their conduct might impact generally on people throughout the country, and its reputation, showed an approach that had annoyed and shocked many people.

Legal proceedings
He added that he was very conscious legal proceedings were taking place relating to the bank, and that the Garda had undertaken a very substantial investigation.

“As Minister for Justice I am deliberately not engaging in making comment that could be misinterpreted.’’