merrion street

Christine Lagarde Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund met with the Taoiseach in advance of a press conference with Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Speaking at the press conference Ms Lagarde said that Ireland was one of the few countries in the Euro zone showing positive growth numbers.

Watch the press conference here:

What has been done is huge. The determination in implementing the programme is extraordinary. I would say that more than two thirds of the work has been done in terms of fiscal policies" Ms Legarde continued "there are results around the corner. While it has been very hard there is clearly good news on the horizon

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore said:

Obviously our focus is on the steps that we have to take to ensure that we exit from the EU/IMF Programme. We have made a number of important steps forward since the beginning of the year. We have sold Irish life, and sold the CoCos in Bank of Ireland. We have made a major step forward in resolving the question of the Anglo promissory note. And we have been able to announce the end of the bank guaranteeWe are continuing to push ahead in implementing our policies in a number of areas. Mortgage arrears is a key issue.

Internationally, we are continuing to work on the issue of term extensions to the EU component of our programme loans, and we need to make further progress on banking union.

There are still challenges in the months ahead to achieve a smooth exit from the programme, and we are pleased to have the support and advice of Madame Lagarde and her colleagues in the IMF.