Doubts grow on extending bailout funds deal

Doubts were growing that eurozone finance ministers could agree to extend the repayment time for Ireland’s bailout funds at their meeting in Dublin tomorrow.

The case for extending repayments for an average of 19.5 years was pushed hard by EU economy commissioner Olli Rehn when he said it was important to take the decision at the meeting.

However Irish and EU officials were much less confident because of the gap in Portugal’s budget after their courts vetoed proposed government measures.