Large parts of Irish society were willing to let the good times roll on until the very last minute . . . Warning signs were ignored . . . [There was] national speculative mania . . . centred on the sale and acquisition of property . . . – Finnish banking expert Peter Nyberg apportions blame for the mess
Once and for all, it should give people an incredibly strong sense of finality in terms of the fate of this institution that has cost Ireland so dearly.
– Anglo Irish Bank chief executive Mike Aynsley on the removal of the bank’s name signage
I am absolutely appalled to hear of this latest banker payment scandal.
– Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the goodbye payment of €3 million to Colm Doherty, former managing director of AIB, bailed out by the taxpayer to tune of €20.5 billion
In view of the fact that the royal family of Britain is one of the wealthiest families in the world and that this country is, figuratively, almost sleeping rough, will the Taoiseach ask the Queen if she might make a contribution towards her own bed and breakfast costs to assist the unfortunate taxpayers and go easy on them?
– Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins to Enda Kenny in the Dáil
It’s not easy to point to companies that could be sold very rapidly. We haven’t really tried to get into the mechanics of the disposal of things. I would be surprised if any of these could be sold within the next calendar year.
– Economist Colm McCarthy pours cold water on the idea of flogging State assets now to alleviate our national penury
It will not be done overnight and it will take much work.
– Micheál Martin’s realistic appraisal of the task facing him and Fianna Fáil