EU/IMF delegation gives Ireland green light for bailout changes
A delegation from the EU and the IMF has given the Government the go-ahead to make changes to Ireland's bailout deal, as long as the overall savings target remains the same.
The head of the IMF mission to Ireland Ajai Chopra, along with representatives from the European Commission and the ECB, met with ministers Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin this afternoon.
They told the new Irish government that they are unhappy with the decision of the former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to delay the re-capitalisation of the banking system until after the election.
But according to the Minister for Public Sector Reform Brendan Howlin, they accept the programme for government as long as the new administration agrees to raise the same amount of money from cuts and tax hikes.
