PORTUGAL’S Finance Minister has said “the risk is high” Ireland will have to ask for an international rescue, and said the Irish Government must take into account what is best for the eurozone as well as the country when it decides whether to seek financial help from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

AN EU bailout of up to €80 billion was in the offing for Ireland today as the Government struggled to remain in control of economic sovereignty.

The Bank of Spain has stepped in to bail out a regional savings bank after merger talks with another similar entity broke down, officials said.

HOMEOWNERS will rack up monthly savings of up to almost €500 since September if interest rates, as expected are slashed to their lowest level ever next week.