Irish Are Left the "Good Boys" of Europe

Today the Irish government went ahead with its promise to pay 715 million euro to unguaranteed bondholders of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly the infamous Anglo Irish Bank.
Sinn Fein TDs and others in opposition walked out of the Dail, the Irish Parliament, when the body voted down their move to debate whether or not to go ahead with the payments.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the TDs that he tried but failed to convince the European Central Bank to permit the "burning" of the bondholders -- paying them back a percentage of the worth of the bonds. Kenny admitted that he does not know the names of any of these bondholders.
Irate callers to afternoon Irish radio shows made the point that some of these speculators bought the bonds at reduced rates, some as low as 20 cents on the euro and will be paid back the full worth of the bonds.
While the Greeks protest in the streets and now their prime minister calls for a referendum as to whether Greece should agree to strict terms of its bailout, the Irish have meekly done the right thing with very little questioning.
A small businessman calling into RTE's Liveline today says shopkeers are "on our knees" while there is money for the bondholders. After 31 years in business, he went to the bank for help and they told him "no." What will happen to him when he loses his business? As a self-employed person he will get no benefits. "They don't give a damn," he said.