Ministers: No rift over need for fresh bailout

MINISTERS denied there was a split in the Government over the need for a second bailout as Joan Burton insisted she had not gone “rogue” on the issue.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was forced to play down talk of a Cabinet rift following the Social Protection Minister’s intervention stating another humiliating loan from the EU and IMF could not be ruled out due to the unpredictability of the eurozone situation.

It came as Ms Burton moved to cut rent benefits for social welfare tenants by up to €270 a month.