13/01/2009

Economist Censures Banks And Predicts Major Decline

A leading economist has launched a stinging attack on some of Ireland's banks during a shocking presentation at a financial conference.

A UCD economist, Morgan Kelly, raised attendee eyebrows with his predictions of an 80% fall in house prices, and a 10-year hike before Ireland recovers.

In his presentation entitled The Irish Property Bubble and its Consequences, Mr Kelly argued that the rate of an economies expansion is a strong indicator of the rate and duration of its collapse.

"It has taken us 10 years to get into this situation – it will in all likelihood take us 10 years to get out of it," he said.

Mr Kelly also attacked the ex-Anglo Irish Bank Chairman Seán FitzPatrick as well as the former financial regulator Patrick Neary, Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and the Taoiseach.

However most worringly, Mr Kelly said that extending the Government guarantee to the Irish branches of the Anglo and Nationwide banks was "extraordinarily unwise", predicting the guarantees provded could be "called in the over the next 21 months".

This would make the government responsible for making good on the banks debts and costing the tax payer untold millions of euro.

To aid recovery, Mr Kelly said the Government should abolish stamp duty on property, compile proper price and quantity statistics and restore competitiveness through a public sector pay cut of 10%.

(DW/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

30 September 2008
Irish Banks Get Government Lifeline
Customers of Irish banks are now having their cash 'covered' after a surprise move from the Irish government late yesterday that it will "guarantee all deposits". The high-risk move had an almost immediate positive impact on early trading today, with the ISEQ index of Irish shares opening 3.4% higher, at 3,412 points.
02 October 2008
Gov's €400 bn Plan To Be Written Into Law
The Government's plan to guarantee the holdings of Irish banks has been accepted by the Seanad, and will soon be signed by the President. In an attempt to settle Ireland's market amid worldwide uncertainty, Brian Cowen has used the Bill to pledge a €400 billion guarantee for the states largest banks.
19 June 2008
US Brokers Say Irish Banks Are Weak
Irish banks have taken a huge body blow after US brokers announced Irish banks were weaker than their European counterparts. The report by brokers Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Ltd (KBW) led to shares in Irish banks taking a serious fall on Thursday morning following on from the previous day’s reduction of almost €2.
14 February 2014
Prison Service Confirm Mountjoy Hostage Situation
A prisoner in Mountjoy jail was taken hostage by two brothers in an attempt to secure a transfer prison. The brothers, 24-year-old Stephen and 27-year-old Martin Kelly, tied another prisoner to a chair and held a homemade knife to his throat, according to a report by the Irish Independent.
14 December 2010
Brian Blocks Bank Bonus Bonanza
The Irish Republic's Finance Minister has blocked the payment of €40 million in bonuses by the state dependant AIB bank. Brian Lenihan wrote to Allied Irish Banks (AIB) saying that state support for AIB was now conditional on the non-payment of bonuses, no matter when they may have been earned.