News From The People's Movement Éire - People.ie
Friday 14 October 2011
Ireland requests protocols in line with second Lisbon Treaty referendum undertakings
It seems that the treaty changes will be implemented under Article 48(2) the self-amending clause.
Thursday 13 October 2011
Fascinating overview of the financial crisis - An American viewpoint
Fred Magdoff presented a view of the European financial crisis at the Desmond Greaves Summer School in Dublin.
www.irishleftreview.org/2011/09/11/fred-magdoffdesmond-greaves-summer-school-2011/
This podcast is from the web site of Conor McCabe, author of Sins of the Father, his book on the background to the Irish financial crisis.
Conor will deliver the Raymond Crotty Memorial Lecture for 2011 in the Pearse Centre (27 Pearse Street), Dublin, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday 15 October.
www.irishleftreview.org/2011/09/11/fred-magdoffdesmond-greaves-summer-school-2011/
This podcast is from the web site of Conor McCabe, author of Sins of the Father, his book on the background to the Irish financial crisis.
Conor will deliver the Raymond Crotty Memorial Lecture for 2011 in the Pearse Centre (27 Pearse Street), Dublin, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday 15 October.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Emerging Economies to rescue Europe?
The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—the so-called BRICS countries—which hold huge international reserves, are planning to come to the EU’s aid!
The Brazilian minister of finance, Guido Mantega, said that the BRICS states held a meeting on 22 September to discuss the co-ordination of an EU rescue plan. “We met in Washington to decide how to help the European Union to get out of this situation,” he said. The countries are considering substantially boosting their holdings of euro-denominated bonds in their foreign exchange reserves.
The Brazilian minister of finance, Guido Mantega, said that the BRICS states held a meeting on 22 September to discuss the co-ordination of an EU rescue plan. “We met in Washington to decide how to help the European Union to get out of this situation,” he said. The countries are considering substantially boosting their holdings of euro-denominated bonds in their foreign exchange reserves.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
No cancer drugs for fiscal sinners
The reality of austerity
The European Commission has said that its austerity measures are not to blame for a decision by the pharmaceutical giant Roche to halt delivery of cancer drugs to Greek public hospitals. In a fresh example of how the EU austerity measures are having an acute impact on citizens, the Swiss firm has halted shipments of cancer drugs and other medicines to a number of public hospitals in Greece after years of unpaid debts. The company warned that Italy, Portugal and Spain might be next.
With Greek spending on health care accounting for 10 per cent of GDP, the EU, the IMF and European Central Bank have told the government to cut at least €310 million this year and an additional €1.43 billion in the period 2012–15. In February this year doctors and other health-care workers marched on the Greek parliament in protest over health cuts and scuffled with the police.
Meanwhile the European Commission is keen to wash its hands of the problem. “It’s a commercial decision from a company,” the Commission’s spokesperson on health, Frederic Vincent, said. “We would have to see if the countries make any specific request if this problem is conferred to Spain, Italy, Portugal,” he said.
It’s a question of budget management by the Greek authorities. “Greece has money,” he explained. “The financial assistance package decided one year ago covers the financial needs of the Greek state. Then how this is micro-managed is the full responsibility of the Greek authorities.” He added that the case would be the same if the drugs dry up in Spain, Italy, and Portugal—and presumably Ireland.
The European Commission has said that its austerity measures are not to blame for a decision by the pharmaceutical giant Roche to halt delivery of cancer drugs to Greek public hospitals. In a fresh example of how the EU austerity measures are having an acute impact on citizens, the Swiss firm has halted shipments of cancer drugs and other medicines to a number of public hospitals in Greece after years of unpaid debts. The company warned that Italy, Portugal and Spain might be next.
With Greek spending on health care accounting for 10 per cent of GDP, the EU, the IMF and European Central Bank have told the government to cut at least €310 million this year and an additional €1.43 billion in the period 2012–15. In February this year doctors and other health-care workers marched on the Greek parliament in protest over health cuts and scuffled with the police.
Meanwhile the European Commission is keen to wash its hands of the problem. “It’s a commercial decision from a company,” the Commission’s spokesperson on health, Frederic Vincent, said. “We would have to see if the countries make any specific request if this problem is conferred to Spain, Italy, Portugal,” he said.
It’s a question of budget management by the Greek authorities. “Greece has money,” he explained. “The financial assistance package decided one year ago covers the financial needs of the Greek state. Then how this is micro-managed is the full responsibility of the Greek authorities.” He added that the case would be the same if the drugs dry up in Spain, Italy, and Portugal—and presumably Ireland.
Monday 10 October 2011
You are entering... tHe EuRo ZoNe...
Seven EU members that joined the European Union between 2004 and 2007 are concerned about an obligation to adopt the euro under the terms of their accession and could stage referendums to change their accession treaties, AFP has reported, quoting diplomatic sources.
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania said the euro zone they thought they were going to join, a monetary union, may very well end up being a very different union, entailing much closer fiscal, economic and political convergence.
The new EU members that joined during the period 2004–07 are all obliged to adopt the euro under the terms of their accession treaties. Of these, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia and Estonia have already joined the euro zone. Countries from previous enlargement waves are not obliged to adopt the single currency.
“All seven countries agree to state that a change in the euro zone’s legal status could change the conditions of their adhesion treaties,” which “could force them to stage new referenda” on adopting the euro, said a diplomatic source close to the talks.
Before the euro-zone crisis several new members that have been close to fulfilling the Maastricht criteria for joining the euro zone, including Poland and Bulgaria, had set themselves ambitious plans to speedily join the common EU currency. More recently, several Polish officials have stated that the country has shelved its plans for early accession to the euro zone, until it becomes clear what future should be expected for the common EU currency.
Last April, Hungary indicated that it would seek an opt-out from the euro. More recently the Czech president, the Euro-critical Václav Klaus, said that the EU currency club was a “failure” and that his country should get a permanent opt-out from its obligation to adopt the euro.
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania said the euro zone they thought they were going to join, a monetary union, may very well end up being a very different union, entailing much closer fiscal, economic and political convergence.
The new EU members that joined during the period 2004–07 are all obliged to adopt the euro under the terms of their accession treaties. Of these, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus, Slovakia and Estonia have already joined the euro zone. Countries from previous enlargement waves are not obliged to adopt the single currency.
“All seven countries agree to state that a change in the euro zone’s legal status could change the conditions of their adhesion treaties,” which “could force them to stage new referenda” on adopting the euro, said a diplomatic source close to the talks.
Before the euro-zone crisis several new members that have been close to fulfilling the Maastricht criteria for joining the euro zone, including Poland and Bulgaria, had set themselves ambitious plans to speedily join the common EU currency. More recently, several Polish officials have stated that the country has shelved its plans for early accession to the euro zone, until it becomes clear what future should be expected for the common EU currency.
Last April, Hungary indicated that it would seek an opt-out from the euro. More recently the Czech president, the Euro-critical Václav Klaus, said that the EU currency club was a “failure” and that his country should get a permanent opt-out from its obligation to adopt the euro.
Sunday 9 October 2011
Croatia finalises accession negotiation
Eight years after Croatia’s initial application to join the European Union, member-states have agreed on the wording of the 350-page treaty spelling out the legal obligations and rights stemming from membership.
Croatia will become the EU’s twenty-eighth member on 1 July 2013, provided ratification is completed in all member-states by then.
Unlike Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the bloc in 2007 but were kept under a ”safeguard clause” that could have delayed membership by one year, EU states “have full confidence in the Croatian authorities” in tackling corruption and organised crime and in upholding human rights, a source in the Polish EU presidency said.
But with general elections scheduled for 4 December, days before the official signing of the accession treaty, Croatian politics is already heating up, with the prime minister, Jadranka Kosor, in facesaving mode after her party’s accountant was arrested for corruption.
“This is an orchestrated campaign to minimise the [ruling party] HDZ’s chances in the upcoming election,” she said in a press conference. “They want to create the impression that we’re all the same, that we’re all dirty, that there are factions fighting amongst themselves in the HDZ.”
Croatia will become the EU’s twenty-eighth member on 1 July 2013, provided ratification is completed in all member-states by then.
Unlike Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the bloc in 2007 but were kept under a ”safeguard clause” that could have delayed membership by one year, EU states “have full confidence in the Croatian authorities” in tackling corruption and organised crime and in upholding human rights, a source in the Polish EU presidency said.
But with general elections scheduled for 4 December, days before the official signing of the accession treaty, Croatian politics is already heating up, with the prime minister, Jadranka Kosor, in facesaving mode after her party’s accountant was arrested for corruption.
“This is an orchestrated campaign to minimise the [ruling party] HDZ’s chances in the upcoming election,” she said in a press conference. “They want to create the impression that we’re all the same, that we’re all dirty, that there are factions fighting amongst themselves in the HDZ.”
Saturday 8 October 2011
Indebted states should be made “wards” of the Commission or give up the euro
Not from Holland with Love
The Dutch government has proposed that highly indebted states should be put into “guardianship,” with spending decisions seized from their elected governments and placed under the direct control of an unelected European commissioner.
If a state is unwilling to surrender its sovereignty in this way, then it would be forced to exit the euro.
The commissioner would be given a “ladder of intervention,” under which the level of control of the state would be steadily ratcheted up and applied to this “ward” of the EU executive.
The first rung of the ladder would involve an outside auditor making adjustments to spending to bring down the level of the deficit. If this level of intervention is insufficient, binding measures would be imposed, or the commissioner could order a country to cut spending or to raise taxes.
The last rung of the ladder would see a country placed under “guardianship.” The auditor would then draft a budget for the country before sending it to the national parliament for approval. Such states, described in the paper as “notorious sinners,” would also lose their voting rights in the EU, and the delivery of European structural funds would be dependent on compliance with the orders of the commissioner.
The Dutch government has proposed that highly indebted states should be put into “guardianship,” with spending decisions seized from their elected governments and placed under the direct control of an unelected European commissioner.
If a state is unwilling to surrender its sovereignty in this way, then it would be forced to exit the euro.
“If a country repeatedly overspends in breach of EU stability pact rules, this commission overseer would be able to intervene directly in the running of the country, in a similar way to how a court intervenes in the running of a bankrupt firm put into receivership. We propose to take a great new step forward by forging effective rules to be strictly enforced by an especially appointed commissioner.
This is how we must safeguard the heath and viability of the euro zone and all its members for now and in the future.”
The commissioner would be given a “ladder of intervention,” under which the level of control of the state would be steadily ratcheted up and applied to this “ward” of the EU executive.
The first rung of the ladder would involve an outside auditor making adjustments to spending to bring down the level of the deficit. If this level of intervention is insufficient, binding measures would be imposed, or the commissioner could order a country to cut spending or to raise taxes.
The last rung of the ladder would see a country placed under “guardianship.” The auditor would then draft a budget for the country before sending it to the national parliament for approval. Such states, described in the paper as “notorious sinners,” would also lose their voting rights in the EU, and the delivery of European structural funds would be dependent on compliance with the orders of the commissioner.
Friday 7 October 2011
From Russia With Love
Cyprus, a member of the euro zone, is seeking external aid in propping up its finances. But, unlike the EU and IMF bail-out packages, its loan is to come from Russia, with “no strings attached.”
The minister of finance, Aleksei Kudrin, confirmed that Russia is at an advanced stage in negotiating the rescue package with Cyprus. “Italy has not approached us,” he said -
The largest-circulation Cypriot newspaper, O Fileléftheros, reported earlier that Russia will give Cyprus a €2½ billion loan at an interest rate of 4½ per cent. A €1 billion tranche is to be paid in December, and two other payments are to be made by March 2012. Quoted in the Financial Times on Wednesday, the Cypriot minister of finance, Kíkis Kazamías, said the money will be used to plug the country’s budget deficit and to help refinance maturing debt, €1 billion of which is due for repayment in early 2012.
He said that the deal is “a friendly agreement, with no strings attached,” in contrast to the onerous austerity and reform measures demanded by the EU and IMF from other euro-zone bail-out states.
The minister of finance, Aleksei Kudrin, confirmed that Russia is at an advanced stage in negotiating the rescue package with Cyprus. “Italy has not approached us,” he said -
“Eurozone countries have not approached us in general . . . At the moment we are holding talks only with Cyprus. We have good progress [in the] talks. They will conclude within one month.”
The largest-circulation Cypriot newspaper, O Fileléftheros, reported earlier that Russia will give Cyprus a €2½ billion loan at an interest rate of 4½ per cent. A €1 billion tranche is to be paid in December, and two other payments are to be made by March 2012. Quoted in the Financial Times on Wednesday, the Cypriot minister of finance, Kíkis Kazamías, said the money will be used to plug the country’s budget deficit and to help refinance maturing debt, €1 billion of which is due for repayment in early 2012.
He said that the deal is “a friendly agreement, with no strings attached,” in contrast to the onerous austerity and reform measures demanded by the EU and IMF from other euro-zone bail-out states.
Thursday 6 October 2011
Plans for an EU military command centre
Five of the biggest EU countries have tasked the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, with making plans for an EU military command centre, despite British objections (and Irish silence).
Foreign ministers of the group—France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain—urged Ashton to
They added:
“Permanent structured co-operation” is an EU treaty option that allows nine or more member-states to press ahead on a project without the others, even though it would use the structures of the EU institutions. The initiative is a long-cherished one by Poland and France, which wants to go beyond EU battle groups—temporary teams from two or three EU countries ready to be sent to hotspots at short notice—towards an EU army.
The United States has said in the past that it wants the EU to do more in managing world crises. But the group of five risk angering Britain, the EU’s biggest military spender, which forcefully criticised the idea.
Foreign ministers of the group—France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain—urged Ashton to
“examine all institutional and legal options available to member states, including permanent structured co-operation, to develop critical CSDP [common security and defence policy] capabilities, notably a permanent planning and conduct capability.”
They added:
“We would appreciate [it] if you present conclusions of the work . . . with a view to achieving tangible results by the end of the year.”
“Permanent structured co-operation” is an EU treaty option that allows nine or more member-states to press ahead on a project without the others, even though it would use the structures of the EU institutions. The initiative is a long-cherished one by Poland and France, which wants to go beyond EU battle groups—temporary teams from two or three EU countries ready to be sent to hotspots at short notice—towards an EU army.
The United States has said in the past that it wants the EU to do more in managing world crises. But the group of five risk angering Britain, the EU’s biggest military spender, which forcefully criticised the idea.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Ireland has undergone first “audit” of national debt—results “truly frightening
An idea borrowed from developing countries and recently used to good effect by the Ecuadorian government has now been applied to the Irish debt.
Ireland has undergone its first “audit” of national debt—the results of which have been called “truly frightening.” The report, An Audit of Irish Debt, was commissioned by Afri, the Debt and Development Coalition and the trade union Unite and carried out by a team from the University of Limerick.
www.debtireland.org/resources/publications/an-audit-ofirish-debt/
The report calculates a potential national debt of €371.1 billion. This figure includes a “conservative” estimate of the state’s contingent liabilities: money for which the state is on the hook in the event of a fresh collapse in the banking system. The €371.1 billion breaks down into €91.8 billion in direct Government debt and €279.3 billion in bank debt backed by the state.
Dr Sheila Killian of the University of Limerick, who led the research, said the audit “seeks to quantify and explain Ireland’s sovereign debt, both real and contingent, for which the Irish people have become responsible”.
Frankly weird
The report concludes that the “constructive ambiguity” of the European Central Bank’s policy on bank bail-outs is “certainly not a concept consistent with transparency,” and it addresses what Dr Killian describes as “quite intricate layers of anonymity” in relation to bond-holders. The long-standing anonymity of bond-holders “has some justification” in normal circumstances; however, in times when bond-holders have influence on policy it is “frankly weird,” she said.
The €279.3 billion in bank debt includes €111 billion in guaranteed deposits and bonds under the Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme, as well as €74 billion under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. It also includes the €30.9 billion in promissory notes issued to Anglo-Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide, and the EBS, outstanding NAMA bonds with a nominal value of almost €29 billion, and a net increase of €34.6 billion in the national debt caused by emergency liquidity assistance provided by the Central Bank. The figures contain the caveat that a large part of the €91.8 billion raised by the Government was due to the banking crisis.
A crucial citizen's tool
Explaining the genesis of the audit, Neasa Ní Chasaide of the Debt and Development Coalition said that audits were “a crucial citizens’ tool” that had been used in campaigns against unjust debts in developing countries. In November 2008 Ecuador became the first country to undertake an examination of the legitimacy and structure of its foreign debt. An independent debt audit commissioned by the government of Ecuador documented hundreds of allegations of irregularity, illegality and illegitimacy in contracts of debt to predatory international lenders.
The loans, according to the report, violated Ecuador’s domestic laws, the regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and general principles of international law. Ecuador’s use of legitimacy as a legal argument for defaulting set a major precedent; indeed, the formation of a debt auditing commission sets a precedent in identifying illegitimate debt.
Subsequently, in June 2009 Ecuador announced that it had reached an agreement with 91 per cent of creditors to buy back its debt for 35 cents in the dollar.
If only!
Ireland has undergone its first “audit” of national debt—the results of which have been called “truly frightening.” The report, An Audit of Irish Debt, was commissioned by Afri, the Debt and Development Coalition and the trade union Unite and carried out by a team from the University of Limerick.
www.debtireland.org/resources/publications/an-audit-ofirish-debt/
The report calculates a potential national debt of €371.1 billion. This figure includes a “conservative” estimate of the state’s contingent liabilities: money for which the state is on the hook in the event of a fresh collapse in the banking system. The €371.1 billion breaks down into €91.8 billion in direct Government debt and €279.3 billion in bank debt backed by the state.
Dr Sheila Killian of the University of Limerick, who led the research, said the audit “seeks to quantify and explain Ireland’s sovereign debt, both real and contingent, for which the Irish people have become responsible”.
Frankly weird
The report concludes that the “constructive ambiguity” of the European Central Bank’s policy on bank bail-outs is “certainly not a concept consistent with transparency,” and it addresses what Dr Killian describes as “quite intricate layers of anonymity” in relation to bond-holders. The long-standing anonymity of bond-holders “has some justification” in normal circumstances; however, in times when bond-holders have influence on policy it is “frankly weird,” she said.
The €279.3 billion in bank debt includes €111 billion in guaranteed deposits and bonds under the Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme, as well as €74 billion under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme. It also includes the €30.9 billion in promissory notes issued to Anglo-Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide, and the EBS, outstanding NAMA bonds with a nominal value of almost €29 billion, and a net increase of €34.6 billion in the national debt caused by emergency liquidity assistance provided by the Central Bank. The figures contain the caveat that a large part of the €91.8 billion raised by the Government was due to the banking crisis.
A crucial citizen's tool
Explaining the genesis of the audit, Neasa Ní Chasaide of the Debt and Development Coalition said that audits were “a crucial citizens’ tool” that had been used in campaigns against unjust debts in developing countries. In November 2008 Ecuador became the first country to undertake an examination of the legitimacy and structure of its foreign debt. An independent debt audit commissioned by the government of Ecuador documented hundreds of allegations of irregularity, illegality and illegitimacy in contracts of debt to predatory international lenders.
The loans, according to the report, violated Ecuador’s domestic laws, the regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and general principles of international law. Ecuador’s use of legitimacy as a legal argument for defaulting set a major precedent; indeed, the formation of a debt auditing commission sets a precedent in identifying illegitimate debt.
Subsequently, in June 2009 Ecuador announced that it had reached an agreement with 91 per cent of creditors to buy back its debt for 35 cents in the dollar.
If only!
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Don’t try bunga-bunga with Standard and Poor’s!
Italy is the latest country to have its sovereign debt rating cut, further deepening the debt crisis. The rating agency Standard and Poor’s cut Italy’s rating from A+ to A, describing the outlook for the country as “negative.” The agency cited fears over Italy’s ability to cut state spending and bring its finances in order.
Silvio Berlusconi immediately attacked S&P, describing the agency’s actions as being “dictated more by newspaper stories than by reality.” But could there be any link to Berlusconi’s government having already taken action against the agency, with the Italian police raiding the offices of S&P last month?
Berlusconi’s move last week to reduce Italy’s deficit by €54 billion through a raft of austerity measures has done little to boost investor confidence and is increasingly unpopular with Italians, having triggered large street protests in Rome.
Silvio Berlusconi immediately attacked S&P, describing the agency’s actions as being “dictated more by newspaper stories than by reality.” But could there be any link to Berlusconi’s government having already taken action against the agency, with the Italian police raiding the offices of S&P last month?
Berlusconi’s move last week to reduce Italy’s deficit by €54 billion through a raft of austerity measures has done little to boost investor confidence and is increasingly unpopular with Italians, having triggered large street protests in Rome.
Monday 3 October 2011
Good riddance, Herr Stark!
The unwelcome intervention by Jurgen Stark, departing member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, in Ireland’s budget debate, calling on the Government to cut public-sector pay and social welfare, displayed an extraordinary arrogance on the part of an unelected German official. His intervention met with an uncharacteristic rebuff from Éamon Gilmore that underlined the anger felt even in pandering Government circles. “Our agreement is with the institution,” Gilmore told reporters. “It’s not with individuals within it.”
Since the beginning of the year Ireland’s sponsors in Europe and the IMF have approved the release of loans totalling €30½ billion. Tens of billions more are to come. Stark warned that sentiment could suddenly turn against Ireland all over again. To guard against that, he said the Government should quicken its austerity drive and tackle no-go topics such as public and private-sector pay and welfare entitlements.
In doing so may simply have been a stalking horse for the EU and IMF—an influential man about to hand in his notice.
Nevertheless, this should be a timely warning for workers, welfare recipients, and their families, who must begin to resist the accelerating rounds of austerity that threaten to reverse the meagre gains of the last couple of decades and land us back in 70s-style poverty once again.
Since the beginning of the year Ireland’s sponsors in Europe and the IMF have approved the release of loans totalling €30½ billion. Tens of billions more are to come. Stark warned that sentiment could suddenly turn against Ireland all over again. To guard against that, he said the Government should quicken its austerity drive and tackle no-go topics such as public and private-sector pay and welfare entitlements.
In doing so may simply have been a stalking horse for the EU and IMF—an influential man about to hand in his notice.
Nevertheless, this should be a timely warning for workers, welfare recipients, and their families, who must begin to resist the accelerating rounds of austerity that threaten to reverse the meagre gains of the last couple of decades and land us back in 70s-style poverty once again.
Sunday 2 October 2011
Iceland out of the woods!
The New York Times reports that Iceland is no longer under an IMF programme. A report from the IMF pronounces that the “adjustment programme” was successful.
www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2011/cr11263.pdf
Iceland still has high unemployment and is a long way from a full recovery; but it’s no longer in crisis. It has regained access to international capital markets, and has done all that with its society intact.
And it has done it with very heterodox policies: repudiation of debt, controls on capital, and depreciation of its currency. And it has worked. We would be much happier with an unemployment rate that Icelanders consider high!
No-one told them there was a third option: default.
The IMF report says:
So now, what’s the difference between Iceland and Ireland? The answer might be that Iceland is not completely out of the woods but is getting there.
Contrast Ireland, which is saddled with odious bank debt for at least the next generation.
Don’t mind the ESRI!
www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2011/cr11263.pdf
Iceland still has high unemployment and is a long way from a full recovery; but it’s no longer in crisis. It has regained access to international capital markets, and has done all that with its society intact.
And it has done it with very heterodox policies: repudiation of debt, controls on capital, and depreciation of its currency. And it has worked. We would be much happier with an unemployment rate that Icelanders consider high!
“We were told that if we refused the international community’s conditions we would become the Cuba of the north. But if we had accepted we would have become the Haïti of the north.”
No-one told them there was a third option: default.
“During the first Icesave elections we were told that if we rejected the deal to pay, all credit lines would stop, we’ll be isolated from international society, the sky would fall, and there would be chaos in the streets. This came directly from the government ministers. When we rejected, nothing happened.
“Second time around, this time we had the best deal we could possibly get and it would spark an international feud, we would go to an international court and be forever indebted should we reject. The finance minister did interviews warning us."
“We rejected again. Nothing happened. And the last time I heard, we taxpayers don’t have to pay anything close to what was said initially, maybe nothing at all!”
The IMF report says:
“Over the medium term, moderate growth is projected, led by investment and consumption. However, uncertainty about the sources of growth continues to weigh on prospects. Iceland is endowed with abundant natural resources, but the use of these resources remains an issue of intense public discussion. There has been considerable interest in new investments in power-intensive sectors, but technical and financial obstacles remain a challenge.”
So now, what’s the difference between Iceland and Ireland? The answer might be that Iceland is not completely out of the woods but is getting there.
Contrast Ireland, which is saddled with odious bank debt for at least the next generation.
Don’t mind the ESRI!
Saturday 1 October 2011
NAMA is a “laboratory” for the EU
The Fianna Fáil-Green coalition considered that NAMA “might prove to be a laboratory” for other EU states faced with banks on the brink of collapse, according to the latest diplomatic communications published by Wikileaks.
Ireland’s permanent ambassador to the EU, Rory Montgomery, made the comment to the US ambassador to Ireland at a meeting in Brussels in September 2009, revealing that the EU “was watching closely” the establishment of NAMA.
In a meeting with American diplomats an executive of the Central Bank, Billy Clarke, said the guarantee had to be introduced because a “perfect storm” of external events related to the credit crisis had dried up traditional sources of financing for Irish banks. Another official, Gordon Barham, said that impaired assets were mostly confined to loans to commercial property developers. When pressed, Barham said the media had exaggerated the problem assets.
A comment from an American official at the end of the cable accused the Irish of “being a bit optimistic in their assessment of the level of impaired assets.”
No wonder, then, that the general secretary of the ICTU, David Begg, recently warned the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, that the EU-ECB-IMF troika is using Ireland as a “social laboratory” for testing its economic policies. He pinpointed the fact that “all the talk of reform” ignored the actions of the banks that had sparked the crisis in the first place. “It occurs to a lot of people that reform is for the little people: it is not for the powerful.” He pointed out that the troika’s “economic laboratory” was using Ireland to test its economic policies—policies that were not “evidence-based.”
Ireland’s permanent ambassador to the EU, Rory Montgomery, made the comment to the US ambassador to Ireland at a meeting in Brussels in September 2009, revealing that the EU “was watching closely” the establishment of NAMA.
In a meeting with American diplomats an executive of the Central Bank, Billy Clarke, said the guarantee had to be introduced because a “perfect storm” of external events related to the credit crisis had dried up traditional sources of financing for Irish banks. Another official, Gordon Barham, said that impaired assets were mostly confined to loans to commercial property developers. When pressed, Barham said the media had exaggerated the problem assets.
A comment from an American official at the end of the cable accused the Irish of “being a bit optimistic in their assessment of the level of impaired assets.”
No wonder, then, that the general secretary of the ICTU, David Begg, recently warned the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, that the EU-ECB-IMF troika is using Ireland as a “social laboratory” for testing its economic policies. He pinpointed the fact that “all the talk of reform” ignored the actions of the banks that had sparked the crisis in the first place. “It occurs to a lot of people that reform is for the little people: it is not for the powerful.” He pointed out that the troika’s “economic laboratory” was using Ireland to test its economic policies—policies that were not “evidence-based.”
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