Taoiseach rejects RTÉ claims about IMF

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was forced to deny reports yesterday that he had said Ireland might have to call in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to solve the country’s financial crisis.

At a Tokyo news conference Mr Cowen was asked if recent comments by senior trade unionist Tom Murphy — that the IMF could be called in to sort out our troubles — reflected the reality facing the economy.

He did not deny Mr Murphy’s warning, adding that his remarks were based on the briefings the social partners had been given by the Government when it outlined the seriousness of the current crisis to the trade unions recently.