Bad bank plan is economic madness

BRIAN LENIHAN says that undeserved increases in taxes on low-paid workers are needed to tackle the national debt, then went on to announce a bank bail-out, which he admitted will result in a “very significant increase in gross national debt”, many times what all the draconian levies and cuts will achieve.

This “bad bank” proposal is economic madness which will cost us billions. Through the greed of developers, bankers and some politicians, we already have too many bad banks.

Why doesn’t the Government set up a good state bank with no toxic assets and bad debts and put the money now being wasted on recapitalisation into this good bank so that lending to businesses and individuals can restart and the economy can begin to recover from this government-induced recession?

Ray Corcoran

Hollywell

Ballymun

Dublin 11