International Monetary Fund (IMF) on their way to Ireland

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is on its way to Ireland and plans to begin talks tomorrow to assess what needs to be done to secure Ireland’s financial security.

Spokesperson for the IMF, Caroline Atkinson, speaking to reporters in Washington, said Ajai Chopra, the head of the mission, had already arrived in Dublin, and the rest of the ten to 12-person team is on its way.

Atkinson declined to comment on how much Ireland might need of how the financial package would be structured. She did say that the IMF had not received a request for financial support from Ireland.

Earlier this morning Central Bank Governor, Patrick Honohan, said he expected the outcome of the meetings would be a loan for Ireland. During the meetings the IMF, ECB and European Commission will discuss Ireland’s four-year budgetary plan and the restructuring of the bank sector.

Ireland’s Prime Minister, Brian Cowen, said that while he respected the governor's entitlement to give his view on the meeting he said that his responsibility was to get the best possible outcome for the country. He also denied and he was talking in riddles when it came to the talks.