Cowen seeks to ease Northern Rock fears

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said today that the guarantee issued by the British Chancellor of the Exchequer to cover all deposits at Northern Rock extends to customers in Ireland.

Mr Cowen's comments come as Northern Rock shares recovered strongly today, surging 23 per cent in trading on the London Stock Exchange.

The Minister quoted a statement from the governor and chairman of the British financial services authority that said that if "it be necessary, we with the Bank of England will put in place arrangements that will guarantee all the existing deposits in Northern Rock during the current instability in the financial markets".

The statement goes on to say: "This means that people can continue to take their money out of Northern Rock but if they chose to leave their money in Northern Rock it will be guaranteed save and secure."

Mr Cowen also said that Irish and UK authorities have been in touch and that the chancellor's statement includes deposits held at the Northern Rock branch in Ireland.

The Minister said the issue for Northern Bank was one of liquidity and added that the position of Irish financial institutions is strong. "We have a good modern regulatory regime in existence here in Ireland, and they work very well together."

Irish customers of Northern Rock were queuing at the bank's office on Harcourt Street in Dublin again today, although fewer are queuing than the 300 or so who waited to withdraw their deposits yesterday.

Northern Rock has published advertisements in the country's national newspapers today in an attempt to allay fears over the bank's solvency.

The advertisement, signed by the bank's chief executive, Adam J. Applegarth, offers the company's "sincere apologies for the anxiety and inconvenience" caused but emphasises that Northern Rock remains "open for business as usual".

UK finance minister Alistair Darling yesterday said if necessary the government and Bank of England would guarantee all existing Northern Rock deposits during the current instability.

Anglo Irish Bank had more than €730 million wiped off its market capitalisation yesterday as its shares fell 7.7 per cent, and the stock was down 6.4 per cent. Bank of Ireland lost 5.4 per cent, and Irish Life & Permanent closed 4.4 per cent lower.