Warning over supporting Lagarde for top IMF job
Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton has signalled that the Government may decide to endorse the Parisian for the role after Dominique Strauss-Kahn stood down amid sex assault charges in New York.
However Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted that the Government has not decided who to back for the vacant post as head of the IMF.
Independent TD Shane Ross claimed Ms Lagarde was aggressive towards Ireland and opposed to its controversially low 12.5% corporation tax.
“If we support someone who is so hawkish against us, we will be cornering ourselves,” he said.
The Taoiseach said Ms Lagarde’s personal attitude to Irish tax rates would need to be discussed if she was nominated for the post as she could merely be speaking on behalf of the general French government view.
Despite calls for a non-European to replace Mr Strauss-Kahn, MsLagarde’s name has been touted as a possible candidate.
In the Dáil, Mr Ross asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if he would consider opposing her potential nomination, or ask her views on reducing the interest rate before the Government makes a decision.
Mr Kenny said no decision has yet been made by the Government, but he claimed people could change their minds when they take office.
“It’s fair to say that the French minister for finance articulates what the French government’s position might be,” Mr Kenny said.
“That’s not to say were she to be appointed to the IMF that she would continue French government policy.”
The Dublin South independent TD took a swipe at the Taoiseach, claiming people often changed their minds when they assumed new roles. But in a humorous come-back that drew laughter from both sides of the Dáil, Mr Kenny took to his feet armed with comments that Mr Ross made in 2004 backing Irish Nationwide.
“You’re actually right about people changing their views when they change jobs,” Mr Kenny said.
“I recall on the 28 March 2004 now Deputy Ross said Michael Fingleton’s Irish Nationwide published a cracking set of figures.”
