The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said there will be no special concessions on the IMF portion of Irish bailout loans. Christine Lagarde was speaking after a meeting with the Finance Minister Michael Noonan and the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore.
Ms. Lagarde said the IMF has to operate in an even-handed way and within its own rules.
Ireland is currently negotiating an extension of the term of the bailout loans which were given by fellow European Union (EU) members.
"It's remarkable that Ireland is setting standards in terms of success and results" she said. "What has been achieved is huge and should be recognised, not just by the IMF".
"We discussed how to focus on employment. And the exit of Ireland from the programme" she added.
She said special ad-hoc terms on the IMF loans would not be invented for countries like Ireland. But that the IMF would keep an open mind on helping the government to exit the bailout.
Ms. Lagarde will now deliver a keynote speech at the Institute of European Affairs on Ireland and the European Union.
She arrived in Dublin yesterday as part of her tour of a number of countries in Europe.
