Cowen insists bailout talks not happening despite visit

THE Taoiseach continued to deny Ireland was in negotiations about a possible bailout just 24 hours before the arrival in Dublin of a similar EU and IMF team who went to Greece ahead of their rescue in May.

Brian Cowen said the Government’s objective was to “protect our essential national interest” and ensure “the sovereignty of this country is not unduly imposed with a burden that it could not bear”.

But there was “no dictation” from outside forces, he told the Dáil in what was described by the opposition as the continued “pretence” by Mr Cowen over the possibility of Ireland’s rescue.