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Bailout Republic?
O'Keeffe denies pressure to apply for EU bailout
The minister has insisted that Ireland had not entered talks over a possible EU bailout.
THE MINISTER FOR Enterprise, Trade and Employment Batt O’Keeffe has said that Ireland has not come under pressure to apply for an EU bailout.
Speaking on RTE’s This Week programme, O’Keeffe reiterated the recent statement from the Minister for Finance, saying that Ireland was funded up until the middle of 2011 and that he was confident Ireland could achieve its economic targets.
He also pointed out that the International Monetary Fund had expressed confidence in Ireland, with the head of the IMF Dominique Strauss Khan saying the country could “manage its own affairs” just two days ago.
Reports in the international media over the weekend suggested that Ireland has entered preliminary talks about securing an EU bailout, which has been met with frustration by the government.
The Sunday Independent reports that government sources were “baffled” by the claims.
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