Ireland under bail-out pressure
The Press Association: Ireland under bail-out pressure : "Ireland is facing intense European pressure to accept a massive financial bail-out - not just to rescue the Irish economy but to save the single currency itself. Ahead of talks between the 16 eurozone nations, Dublin was still insisting it needed no help from either the EU or the International Monetary Fund. The nation's sovereign debt, ministers emphasised, is fully covered until next summer. But when Finance Minister Brian Lenihan sits down with his single currency counterparts in Brussels, the message will be that 'contagion' is threatening other struggling eurozone economies and must be contained. German Chancellor Angela Merkel made clear on Monday that the future of the single currency could be at stake if Europe suffers a resurgence of a Greek-style crisis fuelled by speculators gambling on the euro's plight. A cabinet meeting will determine what stand Mr Lenihan takes, but he will face warnings in Br...