Ireland desperately needs external debt relief

With less than two weeks to go to Budget 2013, an event that will take another €3.5bn out of the economy is receiving less attention than one might expect.

The focus of media attention has been diverted elsewhere, and the budgetary discussion has been pushed aside in the face of a dreadful human tragedy.

Unfortunately, just because the media attention is less than one might expect, the budget on Dec 5 will represent another serious attack on the pockets of Irish citizens and will result in a further attack on already very stretched public services.