The Irish Republic is in preliminary talks with eurozone officials for financial support, the BBC has learned.
Correspondents say it is no longer a matter of whether but when Dublin formally approaches the Financial Stability Fund (FSF) for a bailout.
The provisional estimate for FSF loans lies between 60bn and 80bn euros.
The Irish government has not formally denied that it is in talks about accessing the FSF, insisting instead that "it makes no sense" to do so.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11750676
(With a rather flattering picture of Brian Cowen, might I add).
So it looks like what was feared is now looming, looking more like an inevitability rather than a worst-case scenario. We're feeked altogeher, so we are.
Interesting to see how this will pan out, who would've thought 5 years ago we would be in this situation?