Skip to main content
Ireland

Irish crisis talks to push through finance bill

Political parties in Ireland are holding a crisis meeting on Monday following the collapse of the ruling coalition yesterday. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan is holding discussions this afternoon with opposition parties to talk about the timetable for passing a crucial financial bill, which the European Commission declared urgent on Monday..

Reuters
Advertising

Opposition parties have given Prime Minister Brian Cowen a deadline of Friday to comply or face a vote of no confidence.

Lenihan is leading the discussions over calls for Cowen to push the finance bill through. The bill is needed to secure a 67 billion-euro European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout that Ireland requested in November.

Michael Noonan, the financial spokesperson for the opposition Fine Gael party, said the country was “lurching from crisis to crisis” and an early election was needed to restore confidence.

Noonan told Irish state radio that “it would be preferable if it could be passed, provided it is not used as a delaying tactic by Fianna Fail”.

The Labour Party finance spokesperson Joan Burton said the “critical thing” is that the government has to bring the election date forward.

This follows the withdrawal of the Green party from the coalition on Sunday. Fianna Fail continues to govern with a parliamentary minority.

Cowen called for elections last week proposing 11 March, but then resigned as Fianna Fail party leader on Saturday.

Noonan and Burton have both suggested that an election could be held on 18 February or 25 February.

Lenihan has said that its “not realistic” to pass the financial bill in just a week, although he recognises that there must be a “tight timetable” and he will “hear what the opposition have to say this afternoon”.

Meanwhile nominations for the new Fianna Fail party leader close on Monday with a vote expected on Wednesday.

In the running:

  • Michael Martin, former foreign minister
  • Brian Lenihan, finance minister
  • Eamon O Cuiv, social protection minister
  • Mary Hanafin, sports minister

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.