Hanafin: Burton's comments unhelpful

Tourism Minister Mary Hanifin has insisted that the IMF European loan deal for Ireland gives certainty and confidence to the country.

Fine Gael have said that the deal is bad, unaffordable and the party will try and re-negotiate it whey they are in Government.

Labour have also criticised the deal with spokesperson for finance Joan Burton saying the EU and IMF had Ireland 'where they wanted us'.

Ms Hanafin has not been impressed by these comments.

"The fact that it's there (IMF loan)…it's certainly a help. They're the people who are judging us from the outside," she said.

"It doesn't help to have people like Joan Burton saying the country is banjaxed.

"That sends a very negative message around the world when people like Ajai Chopra himself said that Ireland is an open flexible open economy and this is the best deal for Ireland at this time."