Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has said officials from the European Central Bank tried to force Ireland into seeking a bailout before it had even been discussed at Cabinet.
Mr Ahern said “quite incredible pressure†was being applied to the country ahead of the IMF/EU meetings last week and the same thing is happening to Portugal now.
“There were people from outside this country who were trying to bounce us in, as a sovereign state, into making an application – throwing in the towel – before we had even considered it as a Government,†he told RTÉ Radio.
“If you notice they are doing the same with Portugal now because the fear [is] that Portugal will now cause contagion.â€
