Bernie Goldbach in Cashel | Image shot with Xperia Arc
PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT news item to emerge as Ireland trundles through a great period of austerity is the working files of the deceased Minister for Finance. It's covered by the Sunday Independent (click image to run video).
Back in 2008, with the threat of no money available in the Irish banking system, the Irish government made the bold move to cover the losses of a zombie bank. The result of that decision meant an entire generation of Irish citizens would be forced to pay back the bets made by global investors in a Irish property bubble. At the time of the decision, quick executive action meant Ireland would start down a path more favourable to large international investment houses than its own citizens. Pundits can only speculate about the facts the former Minister for Finance (Brian Lenihan, RIP) had at his disposal. If reports emerging from national broadsheets run their course, the Public Accounts Committee may use a process of discovery to totally unpack the fateful decisions taken in late 2008, one many in Ireland do not appreciate.
I made a short video clip in a noisy McDonald's where I discuss these ideas. I normally produce 10 minutes of video every week but this week a sick son needed more attention than newsprint.
Bernie Goldbach curates links about news and he recorded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLs5kRmqHtk with his Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc under a loud backing track.
