Irish govt considering different ways to pay banks

DUBLIN Aug 27 (Reuters) - Ireland is considering a number of different ways of paying Allied Irish Banks (ALBK.I), Bank of Ireland (BKIR.I) and other lenders for the tens of billions of euros in loans they will transfer to a state-run "bad bank," a government spokesman said on Thursday.

Ireland is creating a National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) to remove risky commercial property loans with a nominal value of 90 billion euros ($128.1 billion) from the books of its beleaguered banks in a bid to revive its financial system and economy.

"Consideration is being given to a number of different approaches," a finance ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

The Irish Independent newspaper, citing government sources, said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan was considering holding back part of the payments to the banks with the remainder only being paid out if the loans were giving a return.

(Reporting by Carmel Crimmins; Editing by Erica Billingham)