Media blackout leaves taxpayer last to know Government plans

THE taxpayer is going to be the last person to know the intentions of Government under its sweeping new bank rescue laws.

The first use of the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act was to throw media representatives out of the High Court yesterday while leave was being sought behind closed doors to effectively nationalise AIB.

When a reporter asked for a brief adjournment to give media lawyers an opportunity of considering the proposed news blackout, the request was refused by Ms Justice Maureen Clark.