It seems that there is nothing that Alan Dukes will not do to find a role for Anglo Irish Bank in the future. I am on record about having a soft spot for the old Anglo, but even I do not want to see this institution form part of the future of the Irish banking landscape.

I thought we had the final plan for Anglo, splitting it into a funding bank and an asset recovery bank. This now seems to be changing again - in Alan Dukes's mind - as he reveals his idea to create a second bad bank which would take on the remaining bad assets from Anglo, and the other banks. While he didn't propose Anglo would run such an agency, he did suggest Anglo would have to be involved.

I don't think he fully understands the hatred for Anglo held by the other banks, never mind the public. The concept of proud old AIB and Bank of Ireland passing over their problem loans to the new crack team at Anglo must have really caused a stir at their headquarters. The fine china will have rattled when this suggestion was ann­ounced. The idea of Anglo helping these banks by pushing forward Nama 2.0 is like spontaneous peace suddenly breaking out in the Middle East, and Israel handing back all the disputed lands. 'Snowballs' and 'hell' come to mind.

The establishment banks are only still coming to terms with the concept that they have problem loans and, as we all know, they are challenged when it comes to declaring the truth about their financial position.

The idea is so repulsive to AIB and Bank of Ireland that maybe Alan should run with it a little more. Mmmm....

The more I think about it, the more I like it. I can see the headlines now spinning around the world. "Anglo bails out AIB and Bank of Ireland". The next thing you know, Alan will be bringing Seán back as a special adviser on these new toxic portfolios.

Being in charge of a bank in Ireland seems to bestow some kind of elevated status onto the management, even in today's post-boom modern Ireland. Dukes's real agenda seems to be bubbling to the surface again.

Old politicians can never go away, and retirement is never an option, it seems, unless you get the plum spot in the Park. They always need a platform from which they can project their power, and if all you can get is the helm of the sinking Anglo ship, well that's enough. You still get to make your speeches and exert your influence, and there will always be a willing audience, especially of accountants and lawyers.

Let us not forget that Anglo is spending millions of your euros on these expert professionals, so getting the new boss in to speak at a few lunches and feel all powerful is only fair. You got to give something back for all that money, and we all know the advice is not worth much.

Ireland's back-scratching culture still seems to be alive and well.

New treaties

The course now seems to be set for a new European treaty, and this is going to be interesting to watch. To implement the changes that Germany and France are now demanding (note the language), we will have to vote again on these specific issues and by proxy the whole European project.

This will be happening against the backdrop of our austerity plans which have come from Europe. There will be the usual talk about these amendments being made within the current treaties, but that will not be possible. The Merkel-Sarkozy statement demanded two treaty changes: one permitting the establishment of a permanent crisis mechanism, and another allowing the suspension of a country's voting rights if it persistently violates Eurozone rules.

These changes are very significant, and they effectively pass even more power to the central European government. I am no constitutional expert, but I think that this will certainly require a referendum in Ireland.

I presume that we will again get the usual united political front telling us that we have no choice, that it is in our best interest and all the usual guff. The national debate will be stifled and anyone speaking out against this transfer of power will be considered a crackpot.

There is a huge void of vision in political and economic leadership at Leinster House, and our TDs seem to be addicted to their soundbites about arresting bankers and other populist mantras. I was particularly disappointed by Leo Varadkar in this regard, because he was my great white hope for the future.

Beating up bankers is a vote winner in their minds but it should not be their main focus, as it is not a solution that affects the future. The fact that all the economic policy shots are being called by another country seems to be beyond the understanding of our political class.

It's time to focus on new ideas for the future and that's going to be my mission from here on.