Protestors greet Central Bank governor at coin launch
By Martina Nee
A small group of Anglo debt protestors voiced their concerns and opinions to the governer of the Central Bank Patrick Honahan when he arrived at NUI Galway yesterday for the officiating of a coin launch.
Making their presence known at the Aula Maxima the group, some of whom held signs emblazoned with anti-Anglo slogans, met with Mr Honahan for a few moments. According to reports, Mr Honahan was presented with a protest card and bunch of flowers congratulating the Central Bank on the dire economic situation of the country.
Mr Honahan had been at NUI Galway to launch the Central Bank of Ireland’s latest collector coin, a €15 silver proof coin featuring the design of a wolfhound which is the final in a series of three which pays tribute to the original 1928 coins designed by Percy Metcalfe featuring iconic Irish animals such as the Irish hunter horse and the salmon. The €15 coin features the design of a wolfhound alongside its pup and is the work of coin designer Emmet Mullins.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Honohan said: “We are delighted to be in Galway to mark the issue of the final €15 coin honouring Percy Metcalfe’s 1928 designs. Today’s coin launch coincides with a number of Central Bank events taking place in Galway including the first meeting of the Board of the Central Bank – the Central Bank Commission - outside of Dublin and a consumer protection road-show for retail intermediaries. I would like to thank Dr James J Browne, president of NUI Galway for hosting today’s events and for the warm welcome we have received.”
Meanwhile, the Central Bank’s chief economist Lars Frisell delivered the Paddy Ryan Memorial Lecture at Galway Institute of Technology on Tuesday evening.
Concluding his speech entitled ‘The Economics and Psychology of Financial Crises’, Mr Frisell said: “Austerity is difficult. Psychological resistence will be greater than the pure economic impact would suggest. It is therefore hard to overstate the importance of social cohesion and a fair distribution of burdens when countries embark on fiscal consolidation. Ireland has so far managed the arduous process of austerity better than most countries, and our future success largely depends on this continuing to be the case.”
The Consumer Protection Directorate also hosted its final Retail Intermediary Roadshow for 2012 at the Ardilaun Hotel yesterday as part of the Central Bank’s events in Galway
