Independents’ Day as canny pair wring concessions

TWO defiant independent TDs forced the Government into its final climbdown after a week of humiliation to ensure the Finance Bill can pass before the general election.

Key measures introduced by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan on Tuesday were dropped and he promised to include the 90% bankers’ bonus tax, which he previously argued was too complex to complete this week.

Independent deputies Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae had asked Taoiseach Brian Cowen to abandon plans to bring forward the filing date for self-assessment tax returns.