The sad news is reported here.
While there may be a intense debate about the policy choices he made as Minister of Finance, he showed a high personal commitment to finding the best solution for Ireland and a high degree of personal bravery in fulfilling his duties while also battling his illness.
The Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) carries a video interview with Kevin – you can find it here.
This WSJ article provides another critique of Sinn’s Target 2 analysis.
Karl posted a link to yesterday’s speech by Lorenzo Bini-Smaghi. I would focus on his theme that debt restructuring is a good idea but that it should be used as a last resort, rather than pre-emptively. Some relevant quotes:
The point I would like to make is that having the private sector actively involved in preventing and resolving sovereign crises is a good idea.
and later
This is why such restructuring should only be the last resort, i.e. when it is clear that the debtor country cannot repay its debts.
and
Where is the problem? The problem emerges when debt restructuring is carried out not as the last resort but as a preventive tool, even becoming a precondition for receiving (or providing) financial assistance, a point mentioned in some official circles since mid-October 2010. Debt restructuring would be a way to tackle not only dramatic cases of insolvency but also any difficulties countries face in accessing the financial markets.
Accordingly, the speech usefully boils down the argument to its essence – at what point should policymakers insist on private-sector burden sharing vis-a-vis sovereign debt? LBS provides reasons to argue that it is too early to close off other options; others will judge that it is better to eliminate the debt overhang now.
The Competition Authority is recruiting a new Chairperson and up to three Members – it was advertised today in the national press. The Public Appointments Service is inviting applications, links to the roles are as follows: