Why doesn't Brian Cowen just go to the EU (cap in hand) and demand that the banking bailout (which is covering the international bond holders (many of them throughout Europe)) be funded by the ECB by way of a low interest loan to Ireland (say 3%) over the next 20 years? That would be 2.5 billion per year plus interest. That would have IMO a dramatic impact on our deficit funding and allow us to get back in shape a lot quicker. As a condition for this we should still continue with reducing our deficit to 3% of GDP.