Last week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he expected Mr Makhlouf to make a statement about his role in the controversy before starting his job at the Central Bank here. Mr Makhlouf was New Zealand's treasury secretary, the top civil servant in the country's Department of Finance, until last week. Mr Donohoe has backed Mr Makhlouf to take the job here despite the controversy which blew up just weeks after the Irish appointment was made. Mr Donohoe did not say when or in what form the statement from Mr Makhlouf will be made. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr Donohoe said he has been in contact with Mr Makhlouf, who is aware the controversy has spread to Ireland.

Source: Irish Independent July 02, 2019 01:31 UTC