Lenihan admits Ireland "hit worst" by recession! (and ties it in with Lisbon vote

[peadarmc]

Lenihan admits Ireland hit worst! He blames exuberance and the housing markets! is he finally admitting the failed property policies of government? he goes on to tie our future recovery in with the upcoming Lisbon vote

Says unemployment will reach 12% and economy to contract by 6.5%

more here...

Ireland 'hit worst by recession' Finance minister downbeat about upturn as jobless rate heads for 12pc - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie

[cyberianpan]

A confession has to be part of your new life.
- Ludwig Wittgenstein

cYp

[FutureTaoiseach]

Those in the Opposition who agree that the no vote is part of this equation are effectively absolving Fianna Fáil of blame for the recession, and in that context are not an Opposition at all. They should support the democratically-expressed wishes of the Irish people are tell the govt to tear up this Treaty. They cannot serve two masters. Lisbon is irrelevant to the recession, but ECB policies of cheap-credit are most certainly not. The lesson from Eurozone membership is that overcentralisation of power in EU institutions results in policies - like the common interest-rate - that are damaging to some member states. Let's learn that lesson and vote no. I support EMU but want to see it reformed.

[mollox]

Loose lips sink ships and our indiscreet Minister for Finance risks being accused of “economic treason” by his colleague Noel Dempsey.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is also quoted in today’s Examiner as telling reporters in London that "Ireland is facing a very difficult recession, somewhat worse than the rest of the world".

Ireland ?facing world?s worst recession? | Irish Examiner

If the remarks are accurately reported, Lenihan should get the boot.

His mission was to redress the overly negative view the UK media has promulgated about the prospects for the Irish economy, not to sink us entirely.

[Pauli]

Loose lips sink ships and our indiscreet Minister for Finance risks being accused of “economic treason” by his colleague Noel Dempsey.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is also quoted in today’s Examiner as telling reporters in London that "Ireland is facing a very difficult recession, somewhat worse than the rest of the world".

Ireland ?facing world?s worst recession? | Irish Examiner

If the remarks are accurately reported, Lenihan should get the boot.

His mission was to redress the overly negative view the UK media has promulgated about the prospects for the Irish economy, not to sink us entirely.

No he shouldn't. He is telling it as it is. We whole-heartedly embraced the Anglo-Saxon model of neo-liberalist economics while being in the Eurozone. THAT is why we are in the mess we are in. This was pushed hardest by McCreevy and "closer to Boston than Berlin" Harney. McCreevy is no longer around to apply the boot to. Harney is though and still applying the neo-liberalist "slash and burn" policies to the health service.


Lisbon is, as usual, a red herring in this discussion.

[Contempo74]

Slghtly off-topic, but I do wonder what is the current thinking behind this apparent new-found honesty and reflection by the Finance Minister. It is also spreading, although to a leser extent, to oher members of the Government.

A few days ago, the FM mentioned that the VAT change was a mistake, and now these reports. Is it that they are trying to find the sympathy vote. "Sure we all in this together, I'm doing my best, might make a few mistakes, but they are honest mistakes and nobody is perfect".

Maybe some of the more assute politicos can work out what is going on. If it is not the above, I can only assume that he is cracking under the pressure and looking to tell someone, anyone, how hard it all is and hoping that they can provide some answers

[Question R24U]

Loose lips sink ships and our indiscreet Minister for Finance risks being accused of economic treason by his colleague Noel Dempsey.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is also quoted in todays Examiner as telling reporters in London that "Ireland is facing a very difficult recession, somewhat worse than the rest of the world".

Ireland ?facing world?s worst recession? | Irish Examiner

If the remarks are accurately reported, Lenihan should get the boot.

His mission was to redress the overly negative view the UK media has promulgated about the prospects for the Irish economy, not to sink us entirely.

He gave them a realistic view and stressed our advantages, rather than the fairytales that are dished out for domestic consumption. He also said that spending cuts would be employed and that there would be no timidity to the government's ambitions. We shall see - but only a fool could condemn his assessment for content, timing and location.

[Catalpa]

He's right in what he is saying re the condition we are in

- but he should be circumspect in what he says esp when he is abroad and more so in one of the World's Financial hubs.

As a once off well OK but from now on he should watch what he says and where he's saying it.

PS Leave Lisbon out of it.

[bluefish]

So lets vote Yes for Lisbon!

What will happen?

We hand over more powers to the EU.
More new nations join the EU.

Will companies like Dell come flooding back to Ireland? NO

We will just become smaller fish in a bigger pond.

Lisbon will be the final nail in Irelands coffin. At least at the moment we legally hold the high ground, If we vote NO, Europe legally cant do a thing, If we vote Yes we are doomed.

For the Yes supporters, please tell me how we will get jobs by voting Yes?

[Dare to Dream]

it has a market of 500 million consumers and forgein direct investment creating over 150,000 jobs. We need to stay in touch with Europe and the reasons why the people voted "No" have been addressed.