The former Anglo Irish Bank executive at the centre of a leaked tape scandal has this evening issued a statement denying that he misled the Central Bank.

John Bowe, however, says he does deeply regret the language and tone used in the telephone calls describing it as 'imprudent and inappropriate'.

The discussions between senior managers John Bowe and Peter Fitzgerald were recorded from the banks internal telephone system around the time of the banking collapse in 2008.

At the time, Mr. Bowe was in talks with the Central Bank and in the recordings, obtained by Independent.ie he speaks about requesting a seven billion euro bailout for Anglo from the government, even though negotiators knew it would not be enough.

The tapes were obtained by the Irish Independent.

Mr Bowe says the phone call in September 2008 took place three days after the Lehman brothers filed for bankruptcy which was a period of 'severe and unprecedented market dislocation'.

He says that to his recollection, the discussions with the Central Bank at that time were focused on obtaining funding for Anglo Irish Bank to enable the bank continue on an interim basis pending a more stable market environment.

Mr Bowe said he also wished to highlight that he was not a member of the executive management board of Anglo Irish Bank in 2008 and therefore was not a decision maker in relation to either the Bank’s requirement for funding or negotiations with the Central Bank.

He says his statements were not based upon any awareness whatsoever of a strategy to mislead the Central Bank.

Speaking earlier, the Taoiseach says he understands the anger and rage of the people and has pledged the setting up of an Oireachtas banking inquiry by the summer.