The Taoiseach has said Greece can get a better deal from the EU, if it follows Ireland’s lead.

Enda Kenny, speaking in Brussels yesterday, said Ireland’s experience, and approach provides “lessons for other countries”.

He stated the deals negotiated by Ireland with other EU member states are a model of how other countries should deal with financial crises.

“Clearly we are now in a very different space than Greece is, and Ireland offering a 30 year bond just last week at two per cent speaks for itself of the progress made by Ireland, but there are lessons there for other countries.

“If you are prepared to negotiate and engage constructively within the euro group it can bring very beneficial results,” Mr Kenny said.

Pressure on the Greek government is mounting after the ECB said it would no longer accept Greek government debt as collateral for lending to banks.

Ivan Yates wasn't exactly agreeable with the Taoiseach's view of the Greek dilemma. In fact, he was fulminating.

"Ireland is in a great position to tell the world just how tough the bailout is and cut a little slack to Greece.

"We're a small country, we're not at the big table. We do need to give tax breaks.

"I really find it a little bit nauseous that Enda Kenny should be strutting the world like some jumped-up downstairs person in Downton Abbey trying to be an upstairs person. This is not part of the Irish psyche.

"I find it embarrassing and unfair and wrong and not in Ireland's interest."

"This was a great opportunity for Ireland to have a balanced approach to this. We could have had some credibility having gone through the process.

"What did we do? We just were the best Germans in the class. It would make you sick."

In fact, Ivan was still fulminating by the time Richard Bruton joined the show to discuss the Greek situation.