The departure of Patrick Honohan from the Central Bank caps a week where the Irish public saw the true reality of central bank independence.

The former head of the IMF's Irish mission Ajai Chopra has hit out at Ireland's treatment at the hands of the European Central Bank.

The Oireachtas Banking Inquiry is welcoming "positive signals" from the European Central Bank that it will co-operate with the Inquiry.

The ECB has refused to hand over a copy of the letter which forced Ireland into a bailout.