The latest visit of the EU, ECB and IMF to assess our bailout deal begins today.
Over the next ten days the troika will discuss the upcoming budget and the likely target of almost 4 billion euro in cuts which will need to be found.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has indicated the government will press its case to stick to the pre-election promise of no increases in income taxes and no cuts in Social Welfare.
There are also expected to be discussions on what to do with the proceeds from the sale of any state assets.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s confident the Troika will give us the thumbs up, but he says difficult times lie ahead.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach is to hold a special meeting with the president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso tomorrow to discuss the Eurozone debt crisis.
It comes after the government said it would oppose any efforts by EU leaders to change the Lisbon treaty – a move which would trigger another referendum in Ireland.
