Markets Commissioner Barnier: Ireland will get over crisis

A European Commissioner has said that he sees "light at the end of the tunnel" for Ireland.

Internal Markets Commissioner Michel Barnier has told an Oireachtas committee that he is confident we will get over our current difficulties.

It comes just a day after Finance Minister Brian Lenihan confirmed €6bn in cuts is being planned next year, as part of an overall €15bn, four-year strategy.

Meanwhile, the European Commission said its economic monitoring will in future be "deeper and broader".

Addressing an event in Dublin this morning, the Commission's Secretary General said they would be liasing with officials on how to protect growth while the cuts are implemented.