Pallbearers arrive to remove our profligate corpse

THE squandering of our sovereignty is an outrageous betrayal of national trust that has taken just eight years to accomplish.

Brian Cowen and his cabinet must think the electorate live in a fool’s paradise when they blather to them that they are “not looking for a bailout” from the EU, ECB and the IMF on the basis that the country is fully funded for the next six months. They have no choice in the matter. The financial pallbearers and embalmers have arrived and they are in an extraordinarily strong position to impose their will on profligate Ireland, its feckless leaders and their delusionary advisers.

80% of Ireland’s net national debt of close to €90bn is borrowed from foreigners — an amazing feat in a country which boasts the eighth highest per capita GDP in the world, according to the IMF.