Six of the country’s leading economists have strongly criticised the Coalition’s decision to exit the bailout without a credit line, saying bumpy economic conditions could force Ireland to seek one later but under harsher terms.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said voters have not switched in to the upcoming referendum on the abolition of the Seanad and that the final days of campaigning would ultimately decide the result.

Ireland is not going to get a retroactive bailout from the European Stability Mechanism according to the former deputy director of the IMF, Dr Donal Donovan.

Matt Cooper (Opinion, Jun 21) doesn’t actually say so, but he does imply that the visit of the Obama ladies to Dublin was a disaster.

Cuts to public sector pay and overtime are expected to take centre stage in negotiations on the extension of the Croke Park Agreement.

The Troika would have to agree with any reduced savings target in the Budget, a former deputy director of the IMF has said.

A former deputy director of the IMF has warned that it is unlikely Ireland will be in a fit state to exit its bailout programme next year.

The Government should keep an open mind on cutting public sector pay and pensions, increasing taxes and looking at welfare rates, as its attempts to meet the EU/IMF deficit target by 2015, the Fiscal Advisory Council has recommended.

A former Deputy Director at the IMF says he believes the latest proposals from the Fund for the Irish economy make sense.

Greece should never have been accepted into the euro area and its departure would remove the weakest link, a former deputy director of the IMF, Donal Donovan, said.

Efforts to secure a better deal on the country’s bank debt would suffer a major setback if voters reject the EU fiscal compact, the Government has claimed.

The former deputy director of the International Monetary Fund has said there is a more-than 50% chance that Ireland will need more financial aid from Europe in the coming years.

Speculation continues this morning after weekend reports suggested that Ireland could continue to access emergency international funding if we voted 'No' to the Fiscal Treaty.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has insisted a flat-rate charge for households will be brought in from the start of next year.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said the revised bailout deal with the IMF and Europe to be announced later will help to get the engine of the economy working again.

A CELEBRATION cascaded through the hard man territory of Thomond Park last night as more than 15,000 people gathered for the opening of Special Olympics Ireland.

THE Cork County cricket team are heading into their first second-round game in the Royal Liver “with a degree of optimism” after their historic first victory in the competition last week.

CORK County Cricket Club are preparing to take legal action against Beamish and Crawford to secure the use of their cricket ground.