Sean Quinn is a Threat to the State

[C. Flower]

He was material to the Anglo Irish bubble and burst that has cost the State tens of billions. He is now using his workforce as a private army to coerce politicians.

While we are told that there will be a Garda enquiry into the operations of his business "empire", billions more public money are to be put at risk to protect him.

This weekend, a "poisoner chained to victim" deal between Anglo Irish Bank and Quinn Insurance is being put in place while the Dail is closed. Convenient timing or what ?

The interests of the population of this state are being put in the happeny place behind the interests of this one excessively influential individual.

The crisis is a test of strength between the Regulator, who was brought in to raise the bar of financial regulation in Ireland to international norms, and the usual bar room deals between insiders.

Neither the Regulator, Quinn, nor the Fianna Fail government, is motivated in this by concern for the well being of the citizens of this country.

State-owned Anglo Irish Bank tonight moved to strike a deal with the Financial Regulator to secure the takeover of Quinn Insurance.

Quinn Insurance, owned by tycoon Sean Quinn, once the country’s richest man, is in administration after the watchdog raised concerns over its ability to pay an influx of claims.

Talks are expected to run over the weekend between regulator Matthew Elderfield and executives at nationalised Anglo after the bank tabled the bold bid based on securing debts and refinancing the firm.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said there were concerns over jobs at the wider group but negotiations were being held to assess the plan before a High Court hearing on Monday.

It is understood Finance Minister Brian Lenihan will accept the regulator’s verdict on the proposed buy-out.

.....Liam McCaffrey, Quinn Group chief executive, revealed the insurance wing needs up to €150m to get back on a sure footing.

But he denied allegations it was facing a €700m black hole in its books.

Anglo, which will ultimately be refinanced by the Irish taxpayer to the tune of €22bn, is owed €2.8bn by the Quinn family after a complex share deal turned sour.

Mr McCaffrey said: “We will work very hard with anybody, Anglo-Irish Bank or anybody else, to make sure that the future of Quinn Insurance is robust and protected.”

.....

If a deal is acceptable it is likely Monday’s High Court case on permanent administration will be adjourned.

But Government officials suggested it could flounder if Quinn does not agree to management changes at the very top.

Joan Burton, Labour’s finance spokeswoman, called on Mr Lenihan to explain why large scale investments by nationalised Anglo, and any potential financial exposures, were not officially made public.

“There needs to be full disclosure, in particular, of any potential losses or liabilities for the state arising from Anglo’s involvement with the Quinn Group,” she said.

“The board of Anglo should not have carte blanche to increase the state’s exposure without the specific approval of the Dail.”

She added: “This whole crisis is a vital test for the new regulatory regime. If the regulator is not allowed to do his job on this issue, then Ireland’s reputation will be further damaged.”

Earlier, Mr McCaffrey rejected claims the insurance group had bent the rules when reporting Quinn’s solvency levels to the regulator as far back as 2005.
...
One of the issues facing Quinn is guarantees certain divisions of the company gave over debts dating back as far 2005 – Anglo is owed the €2.8b from the family while the group owes €1.2bn to other influential lenders.

Mr McCaffrey said guarantees were disclosed in annual reports of subsidiaries however the regulator has claimed they were not included in quarterly solvency reports.

A planned demonstration by some of Quinn’s 5,000 workforce at the regulator’s headquarters in Dublin was postponed today.

It is understood worried employees decided to call the protest off in a gesture of good faith and to give Mr Elderfield time to review administration and Anglo’s plan.

The Taoiseach first became involved in the affair over the Easter break and spoke directly to Mr Quinn on the phone.

Meanwhile, Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, the party’s finance spokesman, insisted the regulator must be seen to be independent.

“The Green Party argued for the appointment of a Financial Regulator from outside of Ireland to put maximum distance from the discredited system of financial regulation that had been in place and which helped cause so many of the difficulties that exist with Irish financial services,” the finance spokesman said.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/a...#ixzz0kdVJZC8Q