IMF and EU officials continue to examine books at Dept of Finance

Officials from the IMF and the EU are continuing their examination of the books at the Department of Finance today.

It comes after the Government rejected calls for a referendum on the bailout.

The Dáil technical group of 13 independent TDs have called for the bailout deal to be put to the people of Ireland in order to strengthen the Government's hand when it comes to any renegotiations of the terms.

Independent TD Shane Ross was one of those who spearheaded the motion for a referendum, and said that if a referendum were held, the Government's negotiators would have "in their back pocket, a mandate from the people to say we will not accept this".