Irish lawmakers wrangle over new date for election

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland's unraveling government said Monday it was open to negotiating a fast-tracked plan for its dying days that would allow an early election to be held next month.

But Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said opposition leaders must be willing to provide enough time to pass a critical tax-raising bill before parliament is dissolved. At stake is international confidence in Ireland, a once-booming nation that two months ago was forced to accept a euro67.5 billion ($91 billion) international bailout loan.

Lenihan was holding Monday night talks with opposition leaders, hoping to defuse their threat to topple the government this week in a confidence vote. Prime Minister Brian Cowen lost his parliamentary majority over the weekend, and losing a confidence vote would trigger the government's immediate collapse.

Lenihan said the government couldn't dissolve parliament until next week at the earliest, because the Finance Bill — which aims to boost Ireland's income taxes and close tax-dodging loopholes — requires weeks of debate and amendment.



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[bemildred]

1. Ignore the threats, they are empty, bring the government down now. nt

[enlightenment]

2. I would think that Mr. Lenihan would prefer to step down

voluntarily, rather than be tarred, feathered, and transported out of town on a rail - which is what the people are going to do if he keeps talking like that . . .

Gobsmacked to read that Ireland was 'forced to accept' that bailout. I did not know that the EU was holding a gun to their heads!

[CountAllVotes]

3. The Irish people have been lied to, cheated and robbed!!!!!

Time to throw you out too Mr. Lenihan. Enough is enough already!

You've had roads built all over the Emerald Isle with tolls on them. There is no one left to drive on these roads much less pay these tolls. They run through many pre-historic archaeological sites you idiots that have done this! Much of Ireland's history has been lost and destroyed forever thanks to the Lenihan et al. and the EU.

The Irish were against joining the EU but another vote was taken which amazingly approved it. :dunce:

This is what happened with the "Lisbon Treaty" as well. It was also rejected and then approved after another round of "voting" whatever the hell that means!

:grr: :argh: :grr: :argh: :mad:

:kick: