Allied Irish Banks (AIB)

[MrBankRoll]

Irish lower house passes first vote on finance bill

DUBLIN | Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:21am EST

DUBLIN Jan 26 (Reuters) - Ireland's lower chamber approved by 80 votes to 78 the first vote on a fiscal bill central to an EU/IMF bailout on Wednesday averting the government's immediate collapse.

The finance bill is the final piece of legislation underpinning a 2011 austerity budget and Cowen has pledged to call an election after the law passes through both houses of parliament, expected on Saturday.

(Reporting by Carmel Crimmins and Yara Bayoumy)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSDUB00331420110126?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r1:c0.621739:b41282248:z0