Dept of Finance refutes Varadkar claims on second bailout

Officials at the Department of Finance are insisting Ireland is still planning to return to the bond markets next year.

It follows comments from the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar yesterday, in which he said it was "very unlikely" that deadline could be kept.

He also suggested another programme of loans could be needed either as an extension to the current bailout, or a separate deal.

Nick Bullman, founder of CheckRisk, thinks Ireland may not be able to avoid the prospect of needing another bailout.