Lenihan rejects 'lack of clarity' accusation
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has rejected an accusation that the Government has not given the public a clear message on talks in relation to a possible bailout for Ireland.
The claim came from former president of the European Parliament Pat Cox this morning, who said we had had "too much spin, delusion and wishful thinking" on the issue so far, and that events "should be spelt out in plain language".
It comes as a delegation from the IMF and European Central Bank prepares to visit Ireland tomorrow to do the groundwork for a bank bailout.
Minister Lenihan said he had made every effort to explain what was happening and insisted Europe was behind the Government's strategy to date.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has said he understands why Irish people are worried about EU-IMF talks on the economy, but insisted the steps that had been taken so far had been correct.
The Minister said there was no fixed timeline for the talks which get underway in Dublin tomorrow, and that it was important they were thorough.
"We'll go through in detail what has been done, and what more needs to be done..particularly in relation to the banks," he said.
"It's only then that you can assess whether we will need further assistance or not. No one knows that, and the Government has been right to say..what's the right thing to do?"
