IMF delays €22.5bn loan approval over Dáil vote

THE IMF has postponed approving its €22.5 billion loan to the country after Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s decision to put the conditions of the package to a vote in the Dáil next week.

Both the IMF and the Department of Finance refused to say what the fallout of a “no” vote would be for the money — a third of the €67.5bn bailout finalised earlier this week.

European Commission officials were shaking their heads in disbelief at Fianna Fáil’s decision to look for a vote at this late stage, saying it was misleading since the agreement with the EU has already been signed.