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FINE GAEL MEP Seán Kelly believes he has secured a commitment from the European Central Bank (ECB) to release the infamous letter from its former president Jean-Claude Trichet to former finance minister Brian Lenihan in 2010.
In the letter, sent in November 2010, Trichet is reported to suggest that emergency loans to Irish banks would be cut off if the government refused to leave the bond markets and accept funding from international sources i.e. enter the bailout.
European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly said in March that she was unhappy that the ECB had blocked the release of Trichet’s letter.
In correspondence to Kelly, the ECB has now stated that it is reviewing the decision to withhold the letter in light of the completion of the bank stress tests over the weekend.
“We would like to reassure you that it is our intention to reassess the matter in the light of the outcome of the Comprehensive Assessment, which should become available by end-October,” ECB secretary general Pierre van der Haegen said to Kelly in an email seen by TheJournal.ie
Kelly said today that the ECB had told him that once the stress tests are completed “the conditions will be appropriate for the letter’s release”.
The Ireland South MEP added: “This is a welcome development in the interest of transparency. The publication of this letter is also important ahead of the impending banking enquiry (sic). Irish people have a right to know the thought processes of key policymakers who took such momentous decisions.”
Speaking to TheJournal.ie this afternoon, Kelly said he hoped the letter could be released to him as soon as today, saying: “My understanding is that the letter will be released to me. I was hoping it would be today.”
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has previously said the “threatening” letter should be released, and commented that the “very direct” letter left his predecessor Lenihan with “little or no option” but to begin negotiations on a bailout.
However in May of this year the minister said the letter was like The Third Secret of Fatima, telling the Dáil “people will be disappointed when they see it”.
Up to now, requests to release the letter under the Freedom of Information act – including one made by TheJournal.ie – have been rebuffed by both the Department of Finance and the ECB.
TheJournal.ie‘s request resulted in the Department disclosing the existence of several letters between Trichet and Lenihan in November 2010, but a refusal to release all correspondence which may have related to the EU-IMF bailout.
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Too much paperwork. This only adds to the burnout that many child protection workers face. The job of a social worker has become too administrative and less front line
@Alison Maguire: Do you think its the front line(visiting dysfunctional homes were there’s child abuse) or the admin element that causes turnover in staff ……
@Murr Paul: the frontline also deal with a lot of admin
I believe there is room for all, please note that some of the private agencies are social enterprises that re-investing the children in their care.
As a country though we need to really start investing in support of vulnerable families from pregnancy, good preschools good family support. Our legislation also needs a complete overhaul with a much stronger emphasis on what’s in a child’s best interest not the parents. A child in foster care can at any time be returned to the birth parents, how can a child fully commit to a new family if they are aware of this.
@Anne Kearney: A child in foster care can at any time be returned to the birth parents, how can a child fully commit to a new family if they are aware of this.
A child will always want to return to their parents as when turned 18 kick out by foster families regardless.
@Murr Paul: a significant number of foster carers would and do keep the child in their care after the age of 18. I feel some of the issue is the after care work that goes on from 15 or 16 preparing for independence can instill a fear in the child so there is increased acting out that causes the placement to break down. I reject you before you reject me. A lot of children during access are told that they can go home also the foster carers in their own eyes is only temporary. We need to be able to make a home more permanent for some children and carers.
Why do they try and privatise everything???
Never has a good outcome
In no way am I comparing a Child to a dog here but look what’s happened with privatization re Ashton Dog Pound. Neglect, Abuse, and power pulling where everyone in Dublin is in fear of calling for the dog warden.
@Margaret Doyle: You don’t want to compare the two, and yet you do.
€325 not much to cover all the costs involved with children who have been neglected. The government trying to do all the really important stuff on the Cheap again.
@Alan Kelly: what costs do they have more then any other child? They also receive child benefit, social welfare CDA increases etc. I know cases were they claimed the foster children were disabled to get carers allowance, care grant and domicile care allowance all untaxed. A right little money earner.
@Murr Paul: you cannot just CLAIM someone is disabled!!
Do you know the trauma these kids have been through? Do you know the time that goes into making sure all the needs of these kids at met?
@Murr Paul: would you work 24/7 for 1.93 euro an hour and take the child’s expenses out of that too.
@Murr Paul: What is wrong with you? The state is neglecting and allowing lifelong damage to occur to children. They are pouring money into private companies and you point to a baseless, imaginary problem of welfare fraud. Do you think that so you can feel better or are you just bitter or thick or both?
@Alan Kelly: Making foster caring financially too appetizing is far too dangerous. It attracts the worst of people, to the detriment of these especially vulnerable children. Of course low income families with the right intentions shouldn’t be excluded from fostering simply because they can’t afford it. But that’s why the system allows for specific expenses for the particular foster child in question (with receipts and review process with regards to expenses etc). But just a nice lump sum lodged into your account with no questions asked every month will end up attracting too much interest for all the wrong reasons.
The cost factor here must be quantified, the cost given of €1,000 in a private placement includes other support. It includes the cost of social work support available 24 hours a day 7 days a week not currently provided by Tusla. The private fostering agencies also provide support services such as educational supports child care workers etc.
The private agencies also may be asked to locate careers for children with a complex level of care needs.
have your say