Lenihan delays vote on bad bank in order not to "disrupt" Lisbon debate

[CookieMonster]

Bloomberg reports that Ireland's Finance Minister Brian Lenihan signalled the Irish parliament won't vote on proposed 'bad bank' regulations until October, saying he doesn't want to "disrupt" the second Lisbon Treaty referendum. He told RTE radio that "I certainly don't want NAMA to disrupt the Lisbon debate." Lenihan is creating the National Asset Management Agency to cleanse Ireland's banks of 'toxic assets' after the country's decade-long property boom ended.

Meanwhile, in the National Interest, Doug Bandow looks at Ireland's upcoming referendum and notes that the "German Constitutional Court recently voted to uphold the Lisbon Treaty only if the German parliament approved legislation ensuring the latter's continuing role in making decisions on core national issues". He quotes Open Europe, saying, "British MPs need to wake up-and demand the same power" and notes that similar rumblings have been heard in France and the Netherlands.

Bandow adds that European governments "are badly divided over everything from economic stimulus to financial regulation". He notes that a recent Open Europe poll found that 70 percent of Germans, with the largest economy on the Continent, oppose bailing out other nations.

The National Interest
Lenihan Says Bad Bank Shouldn?t Disrupt Lisbon Debate (Update1) - Bloomberg.com
Finanzkrise: Irland schmiedet Notlösung für Immobilienkredite - Wirtschafts- & Finanzkrise - Wirtschaft - FAZ.NET
Open Europe - independent think tank calling for radical reform of the EU

[FutureTaoiseach]

Does he take us for fools? The people know what's going on, and will not have the wool pulled over their eyes by the elites. This will very much be on their mind when it comes to polling day, as the judgement of the elite on this issue is pertinant to their credibility on other matters.

[CookieMonster]

Does he take us for fools?

Yes. Clearly from the people he is surrounded by he believes us all to be like them, fools.

[Factorem]

So does this mean the protests are cancelled and the public disorder is postponed till October?

[imokyrok]

Is anyone listening to Ned OKeefe on Newstalk right now. Apparently the furen banks were all to blame for our woes. Our banks were just trying to compete.

This is a man who controls the education of our country. I despair.

[eurosceptic]

This is an own goal. BL has just strengthened the no to lisbon no to nama argument which is force an election before NAMA gets created.

[breakingnews]

This is Cowen's decision. Cowen's neck is on the line if Lisbon fails. Lenihan will survive.

[eurosceptic]

Well its an own goal as the collapse the government before they implement NAMA argument is now strengthened

[ang]

Looks like Mr Lenihan has strengthened the no vote. Opposition to NAMA is rising by the minute. Lisbon will turn out to be the peoples referendum on NAMA. They will even sacrafice Lisbon 2 for NAMA. Can't be that important after all.

[Digout]

This could be translated as, "The Greens told FF they wont vote for SCAMA", forcing a GE on the same day as Lisbon?