1. WWW.INDEPENDENT.IE Friday 30 October 2009 ¤1.80 (£1 IN N. IRELAND)
Taoiseach Little Cian is ‘miracle’ boy
after major brain surgery
Lenihan
raises
new fear
is forced to of delay
on NAMA
Senan Molony
back Bruton
and Joe Brennan
FINANCE Minister Brian Leni-
han last night raised the
prospect that the State’s bad
bank will be even further
delayed.
In what could be seen as
for EU post
major unforced error on his
behalf, he said President Mary
McAleese could refer the legis-
lation setting up the National
Asset Management Agency
(NAMA) to the Supreme Court.
Such a move would mean a
huge delay – and could con-
ceivably even result in the bill to
Cowen ditches support for Blair
establish the €54bn national
property agency being struck
down.
There are now fears that
as Fine Gael pitches for top job
international stock markets
could react adversely to the lat-
est scare, although Mr Lenihan
later made it clear that he was
dent rather than a high-profile figure- in no way advocating any refer-
Fionnan Sheahan head to fill the post. ral of the bill to the Supreme
Political Editor There are still doubts over the Court by the President.
in Brussels level of effort the Government will Any setback in the establish-
put into backing Mr Bruton’s bid, but ment of NAMA would delay
TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was the official Irish position was out- banks being paid for their loans,
forced last night to publicly throw lined clearly by Mr Martin. which would have allowed them
his weight behind former Fine “Once an Irishman is going for- free up credit to cash-strapped
Gael Taoiseach John Bruton’s bid ward, we’re supporting the Irish- businesses and consumers.
to get the newly created top job in man,” he said. This, in turn, could put back
the EU. Mr Bruton securing the influential economic recovery, even though
The Government ditched its sup- post would go some way to restoring major economies around the
port for former British Prime Minis- Ireland’s reputation in Europe after world have already started to
ter Tony Blair after Mr Bruton’s it took two referendums to back the rebound.
dramatic entry into the race for Pres- Lisbon Treaty. And it comes at a Uncertainty over the passage
ident of the European Council – a time when the EU’s support for Ire- of NAMA would also have a
post with an estimated salary of land’s economic recovery policies is major impact on the banks' abil-
€300,000. Brian Cowen: gave Bruton a coming to the fore. ities to raise cash in the open
The former Taoiseach threw his half-hearted endorsement Mr Cowen received a round of markets to rebuild their own
hat in the ring by going directly to EU applause from EU leaders last night capital reserves.
leaders to pitch himself for the pow- ward”. Mr Bruton is very much an – an unusual event – when he report- Mr Lenihan was forced to
erful post, bypassing Mr Cowen. outside shot for the position, but ed back on the result of the referen- back-pedal last night after he
After Mr Cowen initially gave Mr would certainly be an alternative to dum. raised the prospect of a referral
Bruton’s candidacy only half-heart- Mr Blair, whose campaign is floun- “I believe that the overwhelming Cian O’Brien (4) from Upton, Co Cork, covery from a 10-hour brain operation. ery since then has astonished his fami- himself, while addressing the
ed support, Foreign Affairs Minister dering. result of our second referendum, pictured with his mum Kate by Daragh Cian suffered up to 400 seizures a day ly and surgeons. committee stage of the bill
Micheal Martin said the Govern- EU leaders are firmly indicating endorsing the Lisbon Treaty by over McSweeney, is being hailed as a “mira- before the surgery in Beaumont shortly before 8.30pm.
ment was going to “put his name for- they want a chairman-style presi- Continued on page 13 cle boy” after making an amazing re- Hospital, Dublin, last week. His recov- FULL REPORT: PAGE 9 Continued on Page 6
Captors give priest Tourist dies McNamara to begin
after assault €412m court battle
heart medication in Australia
Stephen O’Farrell heart bypass four years ago. Thomas The legal battle is the latest
and Denise Clarke However, Mr Kelly, a Belfast A 23-YEAR-OLD Irish Molloy problem for the DDDA, which
politician, revealed that he had backpacker died in an has already lost a chief executive
ABDUCTED priest Fr Michael been given medication from the Australian hospital last DEVELOPER Bernard McNa- and chairman and has delayed
Sinnott is alive and receiving kidnappers for the illness. night following a vicious mara will begin a court action the publication of its annual
treatment for his heart condi- “The fact that there is word assault over the weekend. against a semi-state body next report by months as it digests
tion from his kidnappers in the from the kidnappers is actual- Gearoid Walsh from week over a property deal which the cost of failed land deals.
Philippines, reports claimed ly being looked upon as a good Dublin suffered serious has already cost the taxpayer Although the DDDA has not
last night. thing and there has been word head injuries when he was around €120m, the Irish Inde- yet revealed the full cost to the
Sinn Fein politician Gerry from the kidnappers in terms of attacked outside a fast-food pendent has learned. taxpayer, Environment Minister
Kelly and an aide to former ransom,” he said. outlet in Sydney on Sunday Mr McNamara’s lawyers will John Gormley told the Dail two
British prime minister Tony “So this is all good news that and had been on life begin the court action in the weeks ago that the authority’s
Blair are involved in secret talks he is in good health and they support ever since. Commercial Court on Monday stake had been written down by
aimed at securing the Colum- believe they know, at least, the New South Wales Police against the Dublin Docklands 85pc, slashing the value of its
ban missionary's freedom. area . . . where he is.” last night confirmed to the Development Authority stake from €107m to just €16m.
Fr Sinnott (78) was abducted The Department of Foreign Irish Independent Mr Walsh (DDDA) over a property deal The DDDA has spent a fur-
from the island of Mindanao Affairs said they could not com- had “passed away which saw the developer, the ther €30m cleaning up the toxic
over two weeks ago, and taken ment on the reports last night. overnight”. He had been in semi-state body and financier waste on the site which was
away on a speed boat. Mr Kelly is working alongside Australia for just one month Derek Quinlan spend €412m polluted by asbestos, leaving
Fears had been raised over former Downing Street chief of when he was assaulted. on the 24-acre Irish Glass Bot- the taxpayer with a €120m bill.
his health due to a heart condi- staff Jonathon Powell as part of tle site in the Dublin suburb of
tion that led to a quadruple the negotiating team. FULL REPORT: PAGE 4 Ringsend in 2006. FULL REPORT: PAGE 20
NEWS BUSINESS Lifestyle SPORT INDEX
Climate change to Lenihan to court PAGE 19 McIlroy no match World 15, 24
raise energy bills financial business for master Angel Editorial
Homeowners face higher Finance Minister Brian Fashion Friday: Masters champion Angel Comment 16, 17
energy bills and hikes in their Lenihan will lead a mission to Cabrera beat Rory McIlroy by Letters 17
insurance premiums because
of climate change, the
North American financial
hubs to try to win new
what we’re five holes in the first round of
the World Match Play Features 18, 19
Environmental Protection
Agency said.
business for the International
Financial Services Centre.
wearing Championship yesterday.
SPORT 16 Classifieds 23
PAGE 3 PAGE 21 Sudoku 24
Dettori reaches
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9,200 each week to four deaths Frankie Dettori rode a
Crosswords 25
More than 20 people are now Elan and Biogen Idec’s four-timer at Lingfield Weather 25
in intensive care with swine multiple sclerosis drug yesterday to reach 100
flu and 9,200 are falling ill Tysabri has been linked to seasonal winners for the 12th TV, Radio 26, 27
with the virus every week. four deaths. time in his career. Personals 2
PAGE 4 PAGE 22 SPORT 13
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